Department of Global HealthWhat is Global Health?

Global Health:

  • Global health has been a topic of intense debate over the past several years. According to the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH), it is commonly defined as “an area of study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide.”1
  • For the purposes of the UTMB Department of Global Health, “global health” embraces the Koplan et al definition, adding that global health:
    • Embraces multidisciplinary and action-oriented approaches
    • Addresses inequities domestically and internationally by establishing long-term partnerships
    • Sees health within historical, social, political, and economic contexts
    • Appreciates inter-relationships of human, animal, environmental, and planetary health

1. JP Koplan, C Bond, MH Merson et al, Towards a common definition of global health, Lancet 2009, 373:1993-1995