SC Connecticut News

Nearly 200 people attended the Yale Institute for Global Health’s (YIGH) inaugural Global Health Symposium on April 5. The day-long event featured opportunities to learn about YIGH programs, including seed grants, faculty networks, and fellowship opportunities for students. There was also a session on how to navigate Yale's policies to support global health programs, and lightning talks on a wide variety of faculty and student initiatives in global health.

The highlight of the symposium was the keynote address by Professor Madhukar Pai, MD, chair of the Department of Global and Public Health at McGill University, who emphasized the need for allyship and equity in global health. Pai's address, titled “Building Equity in Global Health: The Role for Global North Actors,” was described as “searingly honest,” “inspiring,” and “essential” for those in the field.

Pai stressed the importance of shifting from saviorism to allyship in global health to address structural inequities. He pointed out the dominance of largely white, male, well-educated professionals from the Global North in key roles within global health organizations, funding allocation, and editorial control of scientific journals. Pai highlighted the failures of initiatives like COVAX, emphasizing the importance of listening to the needs and voices of colleagues in the Global South.

“To bring equity,” Pai stated, “not only do we need to shift from saviorism to allyship, we have to confront the serious obstacles to allyship within our institutions.”

In his efforts to advance equity, Pai encouraged elevating underrepresented voices in research and promoting diversity and inclusion. He emphasized the importance of empowering colleagues from the Global South and allowing them to lead in shaping research agendas.

"As an instructor of a global health course at McGill, Pai said he no longer teaches his students about AIDS in Africa. He invites an AIDS expert in Africa to do so instead. Zoom makes it all possible," the article stated.

Pai also recognized the innovative work of Yale School of Public Health Professor Sunil Parikh and Professor Yap Boum II, along with student trainees Daniel Hodson and Yannick Mbarga Etoundi, for creating the Douala Equity Checklist. This checklist aims to integrate equity considerations into global health projects at every stage, providing a platform for collaborators in low- and middle-income countries to have a greater say in research processes.

Dr. Megan L. Ranney, MD, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovation in public health and global health during the symposium. She emphasized the need to create new collaborations to enhance global health outcomes.

The symposium also saw the launch of YIGH's signature seed grants for faculty, including the Global Health Spark Award and the Hecht Global Health Faculty Network Award, aimed at promoting new research and programs in global health.

The event underscored the critical need for allyship, equity, and inclusivity in global health initiatives to address longstanding structural inequities and pave the way for a more collaborative and impactful future in the field.