PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Following the excitement of great weather and the solar eclipse on Monday April 8, 2024, the Global Health Initiative’s 12th Annual Global Health Research Day launched, showcasing the amazing work that our students and trainees are doing around the world in collaboration with Brown faculty and their international partners. It was also an opportunity to bring together global health researchers and faculty from across BioMed to help build new interdisciplinary collaborations.
Susan Cu-Uvin Global Health Leadership Award
Dr. Mukesh K. Jain, Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences at Brown University, opened the forum. With Dr. Adam Levine, Associate Dean of Global Health Equity, Dean Jain presented the Susan Cu-Uvin Global Health Leadership Award. The inaugural recipient of this award was none other than Dr. Susan Cu-Uvin, MD, Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor of Medicine in recognition of her 15 years of leadership of the Global Health Initiative.
Keynote
Keynote Speaker Dr. Seth Berkley, Senior Advisor to the Brown University Pandemic Center, medical epidemiologist and a global advocate of the power of vaccines, is the founder and former president and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative and former CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Dr. Berkley’s lecture, titled Scale and Equity: How to make a difference in Global Health, discussed careers in global health and the importance of the work of GAVI and COVAX on vaccination worldwide.
Abstract Awards
Brown students, residents, fellows and trainees from across campus were invited to submit abstracts for presentation at Global Health Research Day. Thirty-four abstracts were received and judged by the Global Health Advisory Committee. Awards were presented by Adam Levine, MD, MPH, FACEP Associate Dean of Global Health Equity, Director, Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Health Services, Policy & Practice.
This year’s “Best Abstract Overall” prize was awarded to Calli Dogon, MD for her abstract entitled, Cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes in HIV-exposed uninfected versus HIV-unexposed children aged 5-8 years: the influence of maternal lipid profiles. Dr. Dogon received a $500 award.
Juliet Fang was presented with the 2nd Place award for her abstract entitled, “Money is everything. If you don’t have cash, no one will come to you:” Investigating the relationship between socioeconomic status and HIV risk among adolescents and young adults in Kisumu, Kenya.
Sarah Nuss earned a 3rd Place award for her abstract entitled, Increasing access to pediatric surgical care: Assessing district hospital readiness in rural Rwanda.
Posters and Reception
The reception and poster presentations were attended by over 65 participants, with 30 posters on display. This was a wonderful opportunity for Brown University’s Global Health Faculty to engage with students and trainees as they presented their posters. There was a buzz among students and trainees interacting with others in their global health research, and a chance for faculty to meet other faculty doing work in global health, some for the first time in person.
