This has been an incredible year as we continue to develop and strengthen international connections that enable us to pursue global public health activities. As we have moved beyond the pandemic stage of the COVID-19 crisis, we have seen an increase in international travel opportunities and interest, leading to a variety of successful endeavors that are mutually beneficial to our college and our partners across the globe. Here are a few highlights:
Global Public Health Student Travel Grants
During the 2023-2024 academic year, the College of Public Health awarded Global Public Health Student Travel Grants to 15 students, totaling $47,000 in funding support The recipients included four doctoral students, six master's students, and five undergraduate students Three of these students traveled outside of the U S for the first time These grants enabled students to travel to a number of international destinations, including Romania, India, Mexico, and Japan, among others (see map below) These experiences provided invaluable opportunities for students to engage in global health research and practice, enhancing their academic and professional development
To listen to students speak about their experiences in Romania, listen to episodes 1 and 4 of the student-run podcast Plugged In to Public Health.
2023-24ACADEMICYEAR
Global Public Health Faculty Pilot Grant Awarded to Dr. Oluwafemi Adeagbo
Dr. Oluwafemi Adeagbo, Assistant Professor of Community and Behavioral Health, received the inaugural Global Public Health Faculty Pilot Grant, amounting to $25,000. This grant will support his project titled “Emigration and Mental Health Outcomes among Left-Behind Families in Ibadan, Nigeria.” The study aims to explore the mental health impact on families left behind when significant members emigrate, addressing a critical gap in existing research. More information about Dr. Adeagbo’s research can be found at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/ news-items/adeagbo-awarded-global-public-health-faculty-pilot-grant/
Leadership Exchange with Babes-Bolyai University
The College of Public Health welcomed esteemed guests from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania – Dr Marius Ungureanu, Public Health and Dr Radu Meza, Journalism and Digital Communication This visit was part of a leadership exchange funded by the UI Division of International Program’s Global Research Partnership Award Following their visit to Iowa City, Dean Russ Ganim from International Programs and Associate Vice President Kristy Nabhan-Warren from the Office of the Vice President for Research traveled to Romania to meet with the leadership at Babes-Bolyai University The purpose of this exchange was to expand research and faculty relations between the two institutions beyond public health disciplines and has paved the way for the University of Iowa to finalize its first-ever ERASMUS+ agreement with Babes-Bolyai University, a significant milestone led by the College of Public Health faculty and staff
Read about Dr Ungureanu and Dr Meza’s vi https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/from-the-front-row-modern-healthcare-public-health-and-digital-communications/
Virtual Speed Networking with the University of Johannesburg
With the support of the Iowa Global Health Network and the Office of the Vice President for Research, Dr. Oluwafemi Adeagbo from the Department of Community and Behavioral Health organized a virtual speed networking event. This event connected faculty from the University of Iowa with their counterparts at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, focusing on research in Social Determinants of Health. The event was intended to facilitate meaningful collaborations and the exchange of ideas with the hope of continuing to formalize a larger institutional relationship for the benefit of faculty and students.
Research Exchange with Kyoto University
This year also saw a new collaboration between Kyoto University and the UI College of Public Health As part of this informal exchange, MPH Policy student Andrew Farrell spent the summer in Kyoto, engaging in a research experience with Dr Yukiko Honda looking at Japan’s low fertility rate, that broadened his understanding of public health policies in a different cultural context Concurrently, the College of Public Health hosted Hideaki Tanaka, a student from Kyoto University, who participated in an immersive research experience in Dr Sato Ashida’s lab, learning more about disaster preparedness and aging populations in Iowa This exchange fostered cross-cultural learning and strengthened the research capabilities of both institutions Dr Ethan Sahker (PhD ’19) of the Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Dr Sato Ashida, UI Department of Community and Behavioral Health, hope to continue providing students from both universities with immersive cross-cultural research opportunities in the future
Xicotepec Project in Mexico
Dr Paul Gilbert led his second cohort of 10 public health students to Xicoptec, Mexico, as part of the ongoing Xicotepec Project, which is spearheaded by Rotary International This project aims to address public health challenges in the region through community-based interventions Traveling to Xicotepec over March break, graduate and undergraduate students had the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings, working closely with local community members to improve health outcomes
Global Health Case Competition
The Global Health Case Competition this year presented a challenging case titled “Sustainable Communities and Nutrition Concerns in Homa Bay, Kenya ” Nine teams, representing 23 departments across seven colleges, competed for a new grand prize that would allow them to implement their winning intervention while working with an overseas NGO Dave Okech Okech, founder of AquaRech, Ltd in Kisumu, Kenya, served as a competition judge and presented the grand prize to the winning team, Health Hawks, which included Farnaz Fatahi Moghadam, MS Urban and Regional Planning, MS; Joe Maxwell, BA Political Science; Jovana Kolasinac, MS Urban and Regional Planning; Sanya Sami, MPH Community and Behavioral Health; Sanzida Rahman Setu, MS Urban and Regional Planning The competition not only showcased the innovative and interdisciplinary solutions proposed by the students but also provided them with the opportunity to make a tangible impact on global health issues A full write-up of the competition awardees can be found here: https://www public-health uiowa edu/news-items/ winners-of-the-2024-global-public-health-case-competition-announced/
2023-24ACADEMICYEAR
Other Global Visitors
The College of Public Health also had the pleasure of hosting several other distinguished global visitors throughout the year.
Minh Nguyen (MPH ’14), Public Health Advisor at USAID, spoke with faculty and research staff about opportunities for grant funding and global research sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Dr. M. Sivakami, Professor at the Center for Health and Social Sciences, School of Health Systems Studies (SHSS), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, spoke with faculty and students from the College of Public Health and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, hoping to introduce new research partnerships between Iowa and India. She visited as a member of the doctoral committee for Priyanka Dubey, PhD Candidate, Community and Behavioral Health.
The college hosted a delegation of leaders in health from Uzbekistan, who were visiting the U.S. as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (organized by Global Ties Iowa). This delegation spoke with Dr. Cara Haman, Epidemiology, and Ufuoma Ejughemre, PhD Student, Health Management and Policy, about knowledge and best practices for establishing a National Public Health Institute in Uzbekhistan, as well as topics related to road traffic safety, injury, and health policy.
Conclusion
The 2023-2024 academic year has been a remarkable period of growth and collaboration for the College of Public Health. Through various grants, exchanges, and events, the college has continued to foster global partnerships and provide students with enriching experiences that prepare them for careers in public health. We look forward to building on these successes in the coming years and continuing to make a positive impact on global health.
JEFF DAWSON Chair,GlobalPublicHealthCommittee Professor,Biostatistics
How to Contribute
The Global Public Health Initiative is made possible due to the generosity and support of Dale and Linda Baker and the wider University of Iowa public health community. To learn more about how to support the Global Public Health Initiative, please visit:
