Emory Welcomes Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference Participants
Co-hosted by Emory University, University of Georgia, and University of Alabama Birmingham, the 16th annual conference of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) was held February 20-23, 2025, in Atlanta. The event convened educators, researchers, and students from around the world who explored the theme “Innovating and Implementing in Global Health for a Sustainable Future.” Emory Global Health Institute (EGHI), the Rollins School of Public Health, Global Engagement, and the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory participated in key phases of CUGH 2025 with active roles in planning, hosting, exhibiting, moderating panels, and presenting.
In opening remarks, Dr. Rebecca Martin, Emory’s vice president for global health and EGHI director, reminded attendees that each plays a critical role in building and strengthening global health partnerships across universities, NGOs, governments, businesses, and communities. She emphasized, “The world needs our collective expertise and commitment now more than ever.” Emory’s scientific expertise featured prominently at the conference.
Emory sponsored a panel entitled, Building the Future: Strengthening Community, Workforce, and Monitoring the Pulse to Predict, Prepare and Prevent Pandemics and Address Emerging Infectious Diseases moderated by Dr. Nancy Knight, Chief Science and Programs Officer, of the Task Force for Global Health. The panel brought together experts in community, Dr Gilberte Bastien, Associate Director of the Office of Global Health Equity at Morehouse School of Medicine and workforce, Dr Afom Tesfalem. Andom, Chief Medical Officer, Lesotho Country Director, Partners in Health. Emory faculty shared their expertise and insights on the importance of diagnostics, innovation and data use featuring:
- Wilbur Lam, Associate Dean of Innovation, Emory School of Medicine, chief innovation officer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center, and co-principal Investigator of ACME POCT spoke of his team’s critical and collaborative work done to rapidly scale up COVID-19 rapid tests and, more recently, Mpox testing
- Ben Lopman, Rollins School of Public Health and Director of CIDMATH focused on outbreak analytics and modeling, emphasizing the importance of integration of forecasting analytics into infectious disease preparedness, responses, and policies.
In the poster presentations, EGHI 2024 Global Health Scholars Program awardee, Emily Kuhl, Emory College of Arts and Sciences ’26, discussed gender disparities in tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, treatment, and care in India. The EGHI-supported Emory student team conducted research in India to help inform the development of a quality improvement approach to address barriers in gender-sensitive TB care.
In addition, EGHI’s Mischka Garel MPH presented a poster on the Global Health Scholars Program, EGHI’s flagship student initiative. Garel and co-authors Farah Dharamshi MSEd, JM, Anne Herald, JD, and Rebecca Martin, PhD. assessed the program in 2023 and identified gaps in the application of global health equity principles. Analysis of 2024 participants’ reports and journal entries indicated an improved understanding of equitable research practices, cultural competence, and an overall enriched learning experience.
Emory also had an exhibit that was supported by Global Engagement and provided information on Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Rollins School of Public Health, School of Medicine, EGHI, and Global Engagement.
The final keynote was given by Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center, who spoke on "The Importance of Responsible Governance to Achieve Sustainable Global Health Outcomes.” Ms. Alexander outlined how The Carter Center applies governance principles to achieve real impact in their global health programs. She called on the global community to ensure that governments remain at the center of global health efforts. Following the presentation, Dr. Martin and Ms. Alexander discussed Ms. Alexander’s vision for The Carter Center and what structural changes in global health governance would help fast-track urgent health priorities.
Keynote speaker Ms. Paige Alexander, CEO of The Carter Center, shared the podium with EGHI Director, Dr. Rebecca Martin and CUGH Executive Director, Dr. Keith Martin.
Dr. Martin, who is a CUGH board member, served on the executive planning committee for CUGH 2025, representing Emory University. Reflecting on the conference, she said “I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the planning of CUGH 2025 here in Atlanta. I am inspired by the discussions and am hopeful that we will see new collaborative efforts, innovations, and research to achieve and sustain global health goals. EGHI and the Emory community will continue to actively advance this critical work.”
Based in Washington, D.C., CUGH is an international organization of nearly 200 global academic institutions and partners that envision the university as a transforming force in global health.
View the recorded sessions, presentations, and posters of CUGH 2025.