Learning Objectives
- Understand key concepts and frameworks in global health
- Learn how global disease burden is measured (DALYs/QALYs)
- Explore major trends and challenges in global health
- Understand basics of global health governance
Pre-Session Reflection
Define Global Health
In your own words, what makes a health issue "global" rather than just international or local?
[Your response here]
Reading Takeaways
List 3-4 key insights from the following readings in the table below:
Required readings
- Global Health Essentials by Raviglione et al. - Pages 1-30 (not pdf, book page number) — Provides comprehensive foundation in global health concepts and metrics
- Understanding Summary Measures Used to Estimate the Burden of Disease — NCCID — Pages 1-5
- "The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better." — Our World in Data — Excellent overview of progress and remaining challenges in global health
- Child mortality: achieving the global goal for 2030 would be a huge achievement – but we are currently far away
Optional
- The data that shapes global health | Saloni Dattani | EAG London: 2025
- "Towards a common definition of global health" — Defining the scope and nature of global health
- Why we didn't get a malaria vaccine sooner — Works in Progress. Adds political economy of disease without making it a heavy theory piece.
- Ten failings in global neglected tropical diseases control — Peter Hotez, PLOS NTDs. Short, accessible. The "blue marble health" concept (NTDs persist among the poor within G20 countries) sharpens fellows' framing.
(Optional) You can use the box below for taking notes about the readings.
[Your reading notes here]
Initial Questions
What questions emerged while doing the readings that you hope to explore in our discussion?
- [Your question]
- [Your question]
- [Your question]
USAID Cuts Discussion
In the light of USAID cuts, should we still be optimistic about trends outlined in the "The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better." reading? What are some reasons for optimism in the light of US aid assistance withdrawal?
[Your response here]
Disease Burden Exploration
Using Our World in Data, explore one health issue in your country/region. (At the top, click "Browse by Topic," then "Health.")
- Health issue chosen: [Your response here]
- Key metrics & trends: [Your response here]
- Most surprising finding: [Your response here]
- Policy implications: [Your response here]
Visible vs. Invisible Good
People often think about "doing good in global health" through the lens of what's most visible — building a clinic, treating an individual patient, running a campaign. But the largest gains in global health have often come from interventions that are invisible in this sense: salt iodization, water chlorination, vaccination programs, lead removal, traffic safety regulations. No one remembers the names of the people who pushed for these. The beneficiaries often don't know they were saved.
Take a moment to reflect:
- When you imagine yourself "doing good in global health," what does the image look like? Is it visible (you, doing a thing, with someone you helped) or invisible (a regulation passed, a supply chain fixed, a statistic that didn't happen)?
[Your response here]
Post-Meeting Reflection
Discussion Highlights
What were the most valuable insights from today's discussion?
- [Insight 1]
- [Insight 2]
- [Insight 3]
Updated Understanding
How has your understanding of global health measurement and governance evolved through today's session?
[Your response here]
Follow-up Interests
What specific aspects of global health policy would you like to explore further?
[Your response here]
Feedback form: Please fill in the feedback form linked here.