Building our Global Health Community
One important goal of Global REACH is to encourage the growth of a community of researchers, clinicians, and educators at the University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS) who are interested in and committed to global health. With 29 departments and more than 2000 faculty, the Medical School has a vibrant and diverse portfolio of faculty with global health engagements. Yet our size and diversity often makes it difficult for faculty from different departments to appreciate the activities of their colleagues and to realize the potential for synergy. With that in mind, Global REACH launched the Global Initiatives Forum in June 2012 followed by a Faculty Associate program in February 2013. Dr. Joseph Kolars (above right) is shown with Global Initiatives Forum members (left to right) Kevin Chung, Preet Rana, and Jeremy Lapham
The Forum consists of representatives from clinical and basic science departments who have expressed an interest in sharing their global health work or learning about others’ efforts. Led by Dr. Joseph Kolars, Josiah Macy, Jr., Professor of Health Professions Education and Senior Associate Dean for Education and Global Initiatives, the forum meets 6-8 times per year to share best practices, discuss funding strategies, and present case studies of successful global health endeavors. Forum members then share this information with other faculty members in their departments. Global REACH Faculty Associates are UMMS faculty who have gone through a formal application process and thus become eligible to compete for Global REACH intramural funding and gain facilitated access to trainees interested in committing their time to global healthrelated projects. Bringing together like-minded researchers, educators, and clinicians helps to maximize the impact of our global activities and transcend individual interests.
Shown (left to right) are Feng-Ming Kong, Hussam El-Kashlan, and Kevin Chung
Shown (left to right) are Kathleen Omollo, Brent Williams, Katy Gold, and Bruno Giordani
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