The core of Brown's mission is to educate the next generation of leaders to tackle increasingly complex issues of health, economics, population and environment in a global society. The mission includes partnerships with institutions in low and middle income countries that are having a direct, positive impact on people in these regions.

The Global Health Initiative (GHI) was established in 2009 to expand Brown's partnerships; to bring together faculty members, students, and international collaborators; and to spur innovation and coordination.

The GHI was spearheaded by Edward J. Wing, MD, Dean of the Division of Biology and Medicine between 2008 and 2013, and remains under the directorship of Susan Cu-Uvin, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and medicine. Under their leadership, the Initiative grew to encompass a wide range of practitioners and researchers across medicine, public health, biomedical research, social science, and engineering, working with communities and institutions in Africa, India, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

Since 2009, the Global Health Initiative has supported students and faculty in projects across 38 countries.