In 2024 Department of Global Health (DGH) students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners collaborated with the goal of improving health for all. Through community-centered research, our faculty and students investigated the causes of HIV/STI prevention, examined the resilience of healthcare systems, and highlighted the importance of rural health equity. 2024 was also a year of recognition as we thanked Dr. Carey Farquhar for her two years of service as interim chair, and welcomed Heidi van Rooyen as department chair.
To celebrate the DGH community's dedication to global health equity and achievements from this past year, we invite you to check out five of our blog posts that encapsulate our year in review. We can't wait to see what our DGH huskies achieve in 2025!
DGH WELCOMES NEW CHAIR, HEIDI VAN ROOYEN >
After a year-long search for the right candidate, DGH appointed Heidi van Rooyen as the new Chair of the Department of Global Health (DGH). On October 1, 2024, van Rooyen began her appointment, setting a foundation for her first 100 days and expectations of the department and community moving forward.
DGH CELEBRATES A MONUMENTAL YEAR OF AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS >
DGH faculty, staff, and students were recognized and honored for their dedication to service, community impact, mentorship, leadership, the UW student experience, academic performance, and distinguished achievements in one’s field of study.
CELEBRATING PROGRESS AND LOOKING TO NEXT STEPS IN HIV AND STI PREVENTION WITH DR. CONNIE CELUM >
Dr. Connie Celum, Professor of Global Health, Medicine, and Epidemiology, delivered the keynote presentation at the 21st Annual STI & HIV Research Symposium, and talked about the current challenges in HIV/STI prevention, the inspiration behind her doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) research, and her thoughts on offering doxy-PEP to cis-gender women in the US at higher risk of STI acquisition.
TWO YEARS OF WAR IN UKRAINE: I-TECH AND HEALTHCARE SYSTEM RESILIENCE RECAP >
DGH, BIRCH, and I-TECH collaborated for a conversation with two critical members of the I-TECH Ukraine team to learn about the impact of war, I-TECH's activities in the Ukraine, and the resilience of the health care system.
GLOBAL TO LOCAL: Q&A WITH DRS. LONGENECKER AND MASYUKO >
The Global Cardiovascular Health Program works to advance heart health research around the world including in underrepresented communities such as rural America. DGH faculty members Dr. Longenecker and Dr. Masyuko highlighted the importance of rural health equity, its connection to global health, and how the Rural PRO-CARE HERN grant helps UW researchers study cardiovascular health worldwide.