1 2 3
GlobeMed at Columbia University
Quarterly Report | Jan 2011
GlobeMed HillTop at Columbia Unlocking the power of partnership In November, GlobeMed at Columbia hosted the 2011 GlobeMed HillTop Global Health Conference “From Philosophy to Practice: Partnership as Paradigm for Health Equity.” Over 100 students from GlobeMed chapters across the Northeast gathered at Columbia University and Barnard College’s campuses for a weekend of intimate discussions and lectures examining the ideal of partnership and its importance to the global health movement. Peter Luckow, co-founder of GlobeMed and current Chief Operating Officer of Tiyatien Health, delivered an opening keynote that expounded on the importance of partnership within the global health community, despite the many differences in organizations' background and model. Pamela Barnes, President and CEO of EngenderHealth, delivered a rousing
honorary keynote that urged students to exercise their full potential as advocates for health equity. Throughout the weekend, students heard from global health professionals in a variety of sectors speak about their work’s particular model of partnership and the philosophical ideas that compelled their model. Acumen Fund, Clinton Global Initiative, charity: water, and MedicMobile, were among the many organizations present, and each perspective on partnership helped illustrate the many different, equally effective, manifestations of partnership. Students were allowed the chance to speak with GlobeMed alumni and discuss possibilities in global health beyond their involvement with GlobeMed, as well as engage in intimate discussions with each other about how to improve their GlobeMed partnerships. Several global health and social justice organizations and a
number of academic departments and research institutes at Columbia supported the success of HillTop, yielding partnerships that continue to sustain GlobeMed at
“Being in a room surrounded by so many passionate, capable students made me realize that this student-led organization is not only an organization; it is a movement. It also made me realize the importance of humility.” – Sophia Meyerson, GlobeMed at Amherst Columbia’s partnerships in their community, for as with all things GlobeMed, HillTop's success was founded in community.