GHS Initiative in Health Diplomacy

UCSF Global Health Sciences is pioneering an initiative to develop the field of Global Health Diplomacy, integrating the clinical and research expertise at UCSF with anthropological and policy approaches to global health. The Health Diplomacy program is being jointly led by Vincanne Adams, PhD, PI on the IGCC campus block grant and the Graduate Director of Medical Anthropology, and Thomas Novotny, MD, MPH, Professor in Residence, Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Director of International Programs at the UCSF School of Medicine. Support comes from the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Health Diplomacy occupies the interface between international health assistance and international political relations. It may be defined as a political change agent that meets the dual goals of improving global health while helping repair failures in diplomacy, particularly in conflict areas and resource-poor countries. The CDC has cited health diplomacy as a way of improving trust and providing resources for health protection and promotion around the globe. Although there are historical precedents for health diplomacy, the imperatives of emerging diseases, globalized medicine and science, persistent international conflicts, and new threats to human security call for defining Global Health Diplomacy as an academic discipline for our times.

The objectives of the Health Diplomacy Initiative are to develop a conceptual framework for the field; to develop curricular content that will educate faculty, students, and others who plan to work abroad; and to define a research agenda for this new field. The Initiative launched in 2007 with an academic workshop hosted with IGCC in San Diego and featuring a keynote address from Pulitzer Prize winner Laurie Garrett. Current activities include developing curricula for health diplomacy training, continuing a seminar series at UCSF on the topic, and supporting relevant student projects. For further information, contact Hannah Leslie.

Initiative Background and Publications

Global Health Diplomacy Workshop Working Paper (PDF)
SF Medicine Magazine: Global Health Diplomacy

WHO Bulletin: Kickbusch et al., Global Health Diplomacy (PDF)

Initiative Highlights

The Cuban Model of Health Diplomacy
San Francisco, August 23, 2007
The Initiative screened the documentary ¡Salud! on the international medical assistance and training that the Cuban government provides around the world. The film probes the motivations of international students at Havana's Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) - the world's largest medical school.

Global Health Diplomacy Course
Geneva, Switzerland, June 18 - 22, 2007
Initiative co-director Thomas Novotny joined Professor Ilona Kickbusch in teaching this new course at the Institute of International Relations of the University of Geneva.
Course program (PDF)
Course report (PDF)

Health Diplomacy and Government Roundtable
Washington, DC, May 30, 2007
Supported by the University of Geneva as well as the CDC and IGCC, this roundtable convened government representatives as well as academics to discuss current and potential government activities in global health diplomacy.

Global Health Diplomacy Workshop
San Diego, March 11 - 13, 2007
The Initiative convened leaders in global health from diverse academic disciplines as well as government and non-governmental organizations to develop a conceptual framework of global health diplomacy.
Workshop website
Workshop summary report (PDF)

Crisis in North Korea and the Role of Health Diplomacy
This UCSF seminar featured a panel of international experts and health professionals with experience in North Korea discussing the geopolitical situation, the current humanitarian challenges, and the impact of aid work within the country to date.

Promises and Challenges of HIV Prevention in Iran
San Francisco, February 12, 2007
The inaugural health diplomacy seminar at UCSF featured perspectives on collaboration between Tehran University and UC from researchers at both institutions.

Student Projects
With support from the UCSF IGCC block grant, UCSF medical student Irene Kang spent Summer 2007 as an intern at the WHO developing recommendations for incorporating older persons into emergency management planning.
Technical report (PDF)