< Back NCGHA Member Organizations Reflect on Impacts Facing North Carolina Tom George Mar 6, 2025 RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (WTVD) -- The non-profit research institute RTI International has announced more cuts due to a lack of federal funding. Previous Next

Latest News May 19, 2026 INDY: A Year After Federal Job Cuts, Workers in the Triangle Are Still Picking Up the Pieces Hundreds of federal workers in the Triangle lost jobs in the Trump administration’s early cuts. A year later, the future still seems uncertain. Read More May 8, 2026 NCGHA Executive Director gives the 2026 Duke Global Health Institute Commencement Address Brianna Clarke-Schwelm was honored to speak to the graduating class of 2026 at the Duke Global Health Institute on May 8, 2026. Read More Sep 30, 2025 USAID Contract Terminations & the Impact on the Global Health Sector in North Carolina An Urgent Workforce Challenge Read More Jul 16, 2025 More RTP layoffs as Lenovo, National Institutes of Health Confirm Job Cuts NCGHA Executive Director Discusses Layoffs at North Carolina Businesses with ABC11 Read More May 5, 2025 Trump's cuts to funding for scientific research pose grave risks for RTP and global health Due to funding cuts, North Carolina has seen over $3 billion disappear from the state's economy on top of impacting the careers of many. Read More Mar 7, 2025 Foreign Aid Workers Call on Triangle Officials to Condemn USAID Funding Freeze The Triangle is one of the largest recipients of federal foreign aid money in the nation. With that funding jeopardized, hundreds of local workers have lost their jobs. Read More Mar 6, 2025 NCGHA Member Organizations Reflect on Impacts Facing North Carolina RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (WTVD) -- The non-profit research institute RTI International has announced more cuts due to a lack of federal funding. Read More Mar 6, 2025 Carrboro Council Passes Resolution In Solidarity With USAID Employees, Urges Restart of Federal Aid NCGHA and Member Representatives Attended Carrboro Council Meeting to Support the Passing of a Resolution in Support of North Carolina Global Health Businesses and Employees Read More Mar 6, 2025 NCGHA and Member Representatives Speak at Durham City Council Meeting City of Durham, NC Announces Joint Resolution Calling for the Immediate Lifting of the Stop Work Order on Foreign Assistance Programs and the Re-opening of the United States Agency for International Development Read More Mar 3, 2025 CNN Investigates: Impacts on North Carolina An interview with effected aid workers and the NCGHA. Read More Feb 19, 2025 NCGHA Meets with Congresswoman Deborah Ross NCGHA, Member Representatives, and Students from UNC Discuss How the Closure of USAID and the Stop Work Order have Effected North Carolina Read More Feb 19, 2025 NCGHA Board Chair on Preventing the Next Pandemic An Op-ed by NCGHA Board Chair and Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Timothy Mastro, Published on MSNBC Read More Feb 16, 2025 Chapel Hill Town Council Meets, Discusses USAID, Hears Local Petition Chapel Hill Council Passed a Joint Resolution with the City of Durham Calling for an Immediate Lift o the Stop Work Order and Re-opening of USAID Read More Feb 13, 2025 USAID helps NC in several important ways. We can’t let that be ruined. An Op-ed by NCGHA Executive Director Published in Raleigh's The News & Observer Read More Feb 5, 2025 WRAL News Coverage of Funding Freeze and Stop Work Order Effecting North Carolina A funding freeze and stop work order at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is threatening thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact in North Carolina. Read More Feb 4, 2025 North Carolina News CBS17 Coverage of NCGHA Statements Brianna Clarke-Schwelm, Executive Director of the NCGHA, was featured on CBS17 highlighting the impacts of executive orders on North Carolina industry and employment as a result of USAID turmoil Read More Feb 3, 2025 Press Release: NCGHA Sounds Alarm on USAID Shutdown, Impacting Jobs and Economy North Carolina Global Health Alliance Sounds Alarm on USAID Shutdown, Impacting Jobs and Economy Read More Jan 30, 2025 A Message to The North Carolina Global Health Community The NCGHA is Taking Steps to Make Your Voice Heard. Now, See What You Can Do to Get Involved Read More Jan 28, 2025 A Statement From the North Carolina Global Health Alliance on Recent Executive Orders The North Carolina Global Health Alliance Urges North Carolina's Congressional Delegation to Advocate for the Reversal of the Stop Work Order Read More

The mission of the North Carolina Global Health Alliance is to advance North Carolina as an international center for research, training, education, program implementation, advocacy and business dedicated to improving the health of the world's communities. We engage academic, governmental, nonprofit and for-profit organizations in this collaborative effort. ADVANCING NORTH CAROLINA AS A CENTER OF GLOBAL HEALTH Stand with Global Health in NC GIVE NOW A Collaborative Community The North Carolina Global Health Alliance is dedicated to advancing North Carolina as a center of global health. We work to foster collaboration and innovation in our state and region by acting as a connector and advocate on behalf of our global health community. Our member organizations are world-renowned academic, non-profit, governmental, and for-profit institutions that are addressing some of the worlds toughest challenges. Learn more about us! Current Members & Partners Join us in welcoming our new Board Chair, Dr. Jerry Bloomfield Read the Full Announcement - North Carolina - Where Local Meets Global In 2021, North Carolina’s global health sector – made up of more than 900 organizations and over 174,000 jobs – contributed $31.9 billion in value to our state’s economy. The North Carolina Global Health Alliance represents the interests of this dynamic industry. We are a global health community working together to increase our impact around the world. Join our mailing list to stay connected with all things global health in North Carolina. Sign up! You are what makes us great. DONATE

< Back Press Release: NCGHA Sounds Alarm on USAID Shutdown, Impacting Jobs and Economy Feb 3, 2025 North Carolina Global Health Alliance Sounds Alarm on USAID Shutdown, Impacting Jobs and Economy FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 4, 2025 North Carolina Global Health Alliance Condemns Dismantling of USAID, Citing Severe Economic and Security Impacts for North Carolina Raleigh, NC – The North Carolina Global Health Alliance (NCGHA) expresses profound concern over the recent actions leading to the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Following an initial Stop Work Order that paused all funding and caused immediate furloughs and disruptions, the subsequent shutdown of USAID operations has exacerbated the crisis, threatening thousands of jobs in North Carolina and posing significant risks to both the state's economy and global stability. North Carolina stands as the fourth-largest recipient of USAID funding in the nation, supporting a robust global health sector that contributes $31.9 billion annually to the state's economy. The initial funding freeze led to immediate furloughs and disrupted long-standing international partnerships. The complete dismantling of USAID now jeopardizes the future of numerous organizations and the livelihoods of countless professionals dedicated to global health and development. "The dismantling of USAID is a direct assault on North Carolina's economic vitality and our leadership in global health," said Brianna Clarke-Schwelm, Executive Director of the NCGHA. "The initial funding freeze was devastating, but the complete shutdown threatens to decimate an industry that not only provides thousands of jobs but also plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges." Beyond the immediate economic repercussions, the closure of USAID undermines U.S. national security interests. USAID's programs are instrumental in countering global instability, mitigating the influence of adversaries, and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. The absence of these programs cedes strategic ground to competitors and diminishes the United States' ability to respond to international crises. The NCGHA urgently calls upon North Carolina's congressional delegation, including Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, to take immediate action to address this crisis. The organization also encourages concerned citizens to contact their representatives to advocate for the restoration of USAID's critical functions. "We cannot afford to remain passive as an essential agency is dismantled, jeopardizing both our state's economy and our national security," Clarke-Schwelm added. "It is imperative that we act swiftly to restore USAID's operations and protect the interests of North Carolina and the nation." For media inquiries, please contact: Brianna Clarke-Schwelm Executive Director, North Carolina Global Health Alliance Email: Brianna@ncglobalhealth.org Website: www.ncglobalhealth.org Previous Next

< Back A Message to The North Carolina Global Health Community Jan 30, 2025 The NCGHA is Taking Steps to Make Your Voice Heard. Now, See What You Can Do to Get Involved Dear NCGHA Community, In recent days, the global health and humanitarian aid sectors have faced unprecedented challenges that threaten the progress we’ve made, the people we serve, and the jobs that sustain our work. The State Department’s Stop Work Order has placed critical foreign assistance programs on hold, creating uncertainty for thousands of professionals dedicated to advancing health, stability, and economic growth worldwide. At the North Carolina Global Health Alliance (NCGHA), we recognize how deeply this moment affects our community. Many of you are grappling with disruptions to your work, funding concerns, and the unsettling reality that livelihoods may be at risk. We want to acknowledge this hardship while also reaffirming our commitment to supporting you and ensuring that North Carolina’s vital role in global health does not go unnoticed. Our Actions on Your Behalf The NCGHA has taken immediate steps to elevate North Carolina’s unique position as the fourth-largest recipient of USAID funding in the country. We have: Sent letters to our Senators and key members of Congress to emphasize the economic and national security consequences of halting foreign assistance. Engaged in direct conversations with the offices of Senators Tillis and Budd, as well as Congresswoman Ross, providing real-time job impact data to strengthen their efforts to protect North Carolinians. Collaborated with national advocacy organizations to ensure that North Carolina’s voice is amplified in discussions on Capitol Hill. Widely shared our statement on the Stop Work Order and encouraged partners to use its data in their own advocacy efforts. Read our statement here. How You Can Take Action Advocacy is most powerful when we stand together. Here are ways you can join us in fighting for the future of global health: Contact Your Representatives: Call or email your Senators and Congresspeople to urge them to advocate for the reversal of the Stop Work Order and protect USAID-funded programs. ( Find your representatives here ). Share Job Impact Data: If your organization has experienced furloughs, layoffs, or other workforce impacts due to the Stop Work Order, please send us this data. All information can be aggregated and kept anonymous; however, this data is one of the most compelling tools we have when engaging with policymakers. Share Your Story: If your work or organization has been directly impacted, consider sharing your experiences with us. Personal stories can be instrumental in making the case for continued funding. Engage on Social Media: Raise awareness by posting about the importance of global health funding and tagging your elected officials. Tag the NCGHA on LinkedIn and we will amplify your post. Supporting Our Community We know that uncertainty in funding can create instability for professionals and students in our sector. As part of our commitment to supporting the careers of our members, the NCGHA will: Continue sharing job opportunities across global health and complementary sectors for those who may need to explore new opportunities. Follow us on LinkedIn where we are most active. Host our annual Global Health Careers Week from March 17-20 , offering career development resources and hosting new discussions tailored to the evolving landscape. You can sign up on our website here; please note that topics are subject to change. In times of uncertainty, we find strength in community. While we cannot predict the immediate future, we can continue to stand together, raise our voices, and advocate for the work that has saved lives, driven economic growth, and strengthened America’s leadership in the world. We see you. We support you. And we will not stop fighting for you. In partnership, Brianna Clarke-Schwelm Executive Director North Carolina Global Health Alliance Brianna@ncglobalhealth.org Previous Next

North Carolina Global Health Alliance's 2025 event - Global Health in Transition. Sponsored by RTI International, Advocate Health, and Mastro Global, LLC; and Hosted by The North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Looking back at an event to remember The 2025 North Carolina Global Health Alliance Fall Event brought our community together at a moment when global health is rapidly shifting, and the energy in the room was undeniable! More than 140 practitioners, students, policymakers, and partners gathered to reflect on an era of transition and to imagine a path forward rooted in collaboration, courage, and hope. Throughout the morning, speakers challenged us to confront the complexities of global health today: evolving disease burdens, mismatched funding priorities, shifting geopolitical realities, and the urgent need for truly community-driven solutions. Storytelling emerged as a central theme, echoed most powerfully by our Ward Cates Emerging Voices in Global Health speakers. These five rising leaders delivered TED-style talks on antimicrobial resistance and climate change, stigma reduction, low value care, creative evaluation, and the importance of centering - and truly hearing - lived experience. Their optimism, insight, and courage reminded us that the future of global health is not only bright, it is already taking shape. Date Friday, November 14, 2025 Time 8:30 am - 12:30 pm Followed by an informal lunch gathering at Boxyard RTP at 1:00 pm Location NC Biotech Center 15 TW Alexander Dr Durham, NC 27713 Agenda 8:30 - 9:00 am Registration & Networking 9:00 - 9:20 am Welcome & Opening Remarks, Brianna Clarke-Schwelm 9:20 - 9:40 am The Ward Cates Emerging Voices in Global Health Session, Five-minute talks with Breanna Barrett & Yue Suo, Introduced by Tim Mastro 9:40 - 10:30 am The Long View: Leading for Global Health's Next Chapter, Panel Discussion with Rashad Massoud, Paul Weisenfeld & Brianna Clarke-Schwelm 10:30 - 11:00 am Break & Networking 11:00 - 11:20 pm The Ward Cates Emerging Voices in Global Health Session, Five-minute talks with Anoushka Das, Lucy Tantum & Lana Abusalem 11:20 - 12:10 pm Expanding Access, Saving Lives: Global Partnerships for Critical Care, Panel Discussion with Diane Lynn, Vafa Akhavan & Jill Sergison 12:10 - 12:30 Closing Remarks with Krishna Udayakumar 1:00 pm + Informal lunch gathering at Boxyard RTP. Join us! Featured Speakers Read Speaker Bios Here Vafa Akhavan CEO, World Pediatrics Brianna Clarke-Schwelm, MPH Executive Director, North Carolina Global Health Alliance Diane Lynn Assistant Vice President, Global Health Care Advocate Health; MBA '26 M. Rashad Massoud, MD, MPH, FACP Head, Global Health USA IQVIA Timothy Mastro, MD, DTM&H Board Chair, NC Global Health Alliance Principal, Mastro Global LLC Jill Sergison, MA, CNM, RN Co-Founder, Points True North Consulting; PhD '27 Duke University School of Nursing Krishna Udayakumar, MD, MBA Founding Director, Duke Global Health Innovation Center Paul Weisenfeld, JD Executive Advisor International Development Group RTI International The Ward Cates Emerging Voices in Global Health Student Speakers Lana Abusalem, MD MS Candidate Duke University Breanna Barrett MS Candidate Duke University Anoushka Das MPH Candidate UNC Chapel Hill Yue Suo, MS Visiting Scholar, Duke University PhD Candidate, Fudan University Lucy Tantum PhD Candidate UNC Chapel Hill Registration has closed. Thank you to our sponsors! Platinum Sponsor Gold Sponsor Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsor Sponsoring Host

2022 NC Global Health Annual Conference Agenda Thursday, October 6, 2022 McKimmon Center, NC State Want to learn more about this year's speaker lineup? Click here ! Register Here View the agenda on the conference web app.

2022 NC Global Health Annual Conference Thursday, October 6, 2022 SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT The submission deadline for all abstracts was Friday, September 2 at 5:00 pm ET. Impact in Global Health: Are We Making a Difference? At a time of global economic hardship, and when global health inequities are even more pronounced, our global health programs, services and research need to be more impactful than ever. Are we actually making a difference? Are our programs and services having the individual, social, economic and political impacts that are needed today? Is our research yielding the required evidence? Can we demonstrate this impact? Can we identify when they are not? What are the key elements of effective programs? What lessons can we learn? Our 2022 Annual Conference will explore these questions and the global health impact North Carolina's organizations, and those based nationally and globally, are having at the individual, community and global levels. Sub-theme 1: IMPACT OF LOCAL AND GLOBAL HEALTH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Examples of evidence-based local and global health programs and services that have demonstrated impact Strategies for identifying programs, services, and research that had individual, social, economic and/or political impact Examples of local and global health programs and services that did not produce the expected impact, reasons why, and lessons learned Ways that local and global health interventions maintain cultural relevance to achieve impact Learnings from how the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health issues can affect program or intervention impact The importance of measuring outcomes to address global health inequities and support sustainable programming Sub-theme 2: IMPLEMENTATION RESEARCH Components of local and global health programs that are impactful – how do these programs work? Strategies for measuring the implementation of local and global health programs Feasibility and acceptability of effective local and global health programs and services Examples of using frameworks in measuring the implementation of local and global health programs Sub-theme 3: COMMUNICATING GLOBAL HEALTH IMPACT AND IMPLEMENTATION FINDINGS Examples of demonstrating and/or communicating impact to different audiences Use of outcome data to shape future adaptation in existing programs Examples of how interventions changed based on health outcome data Barriers to scaling up evidence-based global health interventions Review and Notification Process Each submission will be reviewed by the NC Global Health Conference Planning Committee. Submissions will be judged based on relevance to the global health community, connection to the theme of the conference, innovation and quality. If you submitted an abstract, you will be notified by September 9, 2022 on the status of your submission. Return to Main Conference Page

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2023 North Carolina Global Health Conference! On November 1, 2023, the North Carolina Global Health Alliance hosted the 10th Annual North Carolina Global Health Conference in Raleigh, NC. More than 200 friends and colleagues came together in-person to reflect on what it means to have resilience in our global health ecosystem and how each of us have built resilience into our own work. Over the course of the day, countless connections were made, best practices and learnings were shared, and not for the first time, we saw just how strong and innovative the North Carolina global health community is. We started the day with traditional Senegalese music from the fantastic Diali Cissokho and Will Ridenour, and then North Carolina’s Congresswoman Deborah Ross set the stage with an inspirational reminder of just how important our global health industry is for both our state and for our country. Later in the day, our keynote speaker, Dr. Angeli Achrekar , the Deputy Executive Director for the Programme Branch at UNAIDS, shared reflections on the impact of PEPFAR and rallied us to continue our collective fight to contain HIV/AIDS around the world. Breakout sessions throughout the day gave participants the opportunity to engage with topics ranging from climate and its impact on global health, to technology’s role in our industry, to the manufacturing of products in new markets. We explored how to better gather and use data to improve health, we learned about equity-centered community engagement, and we looked at the evolving future of global health. Throughout the day, the Exhibit Hall provided an exciting space for organizations and researchers to showcase their work and engage with passionate global health students and professionals. We would like to thank our sponsors, our exhibitors, our planning committee, our vendors, including NC State and the McKimmon Center, and our brilliant speakers for giving so much of your time, talent, and resources to help make the 2023 NC Global Health Conference memorable and meaningful. And finally, to all our attendees, thank you for showing up with energy, curiosity, and openness. As the North Carolina Global Health Alliance moves forward, we hope you will stay engaged with our work and continue to bring your generosity of spirit and incredible visions for a healthier world to our future events and opportunities. Click to View the 2023 Conference Agenda! Keynote Speakers Angeli Achrekar, PhD, MPH Deputy Executive Director for the Programme Branch, UNAIDS Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Congresswoman Deborah Ross United States Representative for North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District Plenary Panel: What it Means to Have Resilience in the Global Health Ecosystem Gwen W. Collman, PhD Director, Office of Scientific Coordination, Planning and Evaluation (SCOPE), NIEHS Gavin Yamey, MD, MPH, MA Associate Director for Policy, Duke Global Health Institute Director, Center for Policy Impact in Global Health Sid Thakur, BVSc, MVSc, PhD Executive Director of Global One Health Academy Professor of Molecular Epidemiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State Click to View Our Full Speaker Lineup! Thank You to Our 2023 Conference Sponsors! Gold Level Sponsors Silver Level Sponsors Bronze Level Sponsors Sustaining Sponsors

2022 NC Global Health Annual Conference Speakers and Main Session Panelists Opening Keynote Speaker Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH Director - Duke Global Health Institute Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH, an internationally recognized epidemiologist who has worked on the front lines of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 treatment and research, is the director of the Duke Global Health Institute. Beyrer, who has worked on COVID-19 vaccine trials since 2020, currently serves as senior scientific liaison to the COVID-19 Vaccine Prevention Network. He is past president of the International AIDS Society, the world’s largest body of HIV professionals and has served as advisor to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the National Institutes of Health’s Office of AIDS Research, the U.S. Military HIV Research Program, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the Open Society Foundations, among numerous other organizations. The author of “War in the Blood: Sex, Politics and AIDS in Southeast Asia,” he has conducted collaborative research in Thailand for 30 years. Before coming to Duke, Beyrer was the inaugural Desmond M. Tutu Professor of Public Health and Human Rights at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he also was a professor of epidemiology, international health, nursing and medicine. At Johns Hopkins, he directed the T32 Training Program in HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Science and served as associate director of the JHU Center for AIDS Research and the Center for Global Health. He was the founding director of the Center for Public Health and Human Rights. Beyrer received his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and holds a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2014 and serves on the Academy’s Board for Global Health, and on the Committee for Human Rights. Main Session Panelists Congressman David Price Representing North Carolina's Fourth District Polly Dunford President and CEO, IntraHealth International Moderator Dr. Anu Kumar President and CEO, Ipas Alan O'Connor Senior Economist and Director of Innovation Economics, RTI Suzanne Maman, PhD Associate Dean for Global Health, Gillings School of Public Health Closing Keynote Speaker Tessie San Martin, PhD, MS Chief Executive Officer - FHI 360 Dr. Tessie San Martin brings extensive experience in both human development and humanitarian response to the role of Chief Executive Officer of FHI 360. A vocal advocate for gender equality, she has dedicated her career to creating a better and more just world for people everywhere. Prior to joining FHI 360, San Martin was CEO and President of Plan International USA, an international development and humanitarian organization that partners with adolescent girls and children around the world to overcome oppression and gender inequality. Previously, San Martin served as Group Vice President at Abt Associates, a consulting company providing research and technical assistance expertise on a wide range of social and economic policy issues, and as director for the Operations Group of the World Bank’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). She has more than 30 years of experience working as an executive in the public and private sectors, bilateral and multilateral development agencies and academia, focusing especially on economic growth and political reform. She has been a forceful advocate for aid effectiveness, serving as co-chair of the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network (MFAN) and a board member of Friends of Publish What You Fund, which supports greater aid transparency, and InterAction, which convenes U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations working to eliminate extreme poverty and strengthen human rights and citizen participation. San Martin has been published in media such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. She has a doctorate in political economy and government from Harvard University, a master’s degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

2023 North Carolina Global Health Conference Speakers November 1, 2023 McKimmon Center Keynote Speaker Featured Remarks From Angeli Achrekar, PhD, MPH Deputy Executive Director for the Programme Branch, UNAIDS Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Congresswoman Deborah Ross United States Representative for North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District Plenary Panel: What it Means to Have Resilience in the Global Health Ecosystem Gwen W. Collman, PhD Director, Office of Scientific Coordination, Planning and Evaluation (SCOPE), NIEHS Gavin Yamey, MD, MPH, MA Associate Director for Policy, Duke Global Health Institute Director, Center for Policy Impact in Global Health Sid Thakur, BVSc, MVSc, PhD Executive Director of Global One Health Academy Professor of Molecular Epidemiology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State Rachel Clad Director of Partnerships and Alliances, BroadReach Group Moderator Christian Pitter, MD, MPH Director of Global Health and Population, FHI 360 Closing Remarks From Concurrent Sessions Overcoming Structural Inequalities in the Global Health Workforce Roy Zwahlen, J.D. Chief Strategy Officer; Eshelman Institute for Innovation Associate Dean, Strategic Partnerships & Risk Management; UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Janet Muriuki Senior Director of Health Workforce Development; IntraHealth International Gerald Bloomfield, MD, MPH Associate Director for Research; Duke Global Health Institute Associate Professor with Tenure, Medicine; Duke University School of Medicine Danny Hamrick Director of Admissions, Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) Program, Duke University Center for International Development Moderator Mental Health in Global Health: Roundtable Discussions Emma Harver Deputy Director of Communications & Development, United States; CFK Africa Eddah Ogogo, MPH Clinical Health Services Lead, CFK Africa Victrine Oluoch Psychological Counselor, CFK Africa Luke Smith, MD Executive Director, El Futuro Brandon Knettel, PhD Associate Director, Duke Global Mental Health Program Assistant Professor Ismail Amiri Shekibula, MGHc Graduate Student, Duke University Kathy Walmer Executive Director, Family Health Ministries Moderator Emma Hughes BS Candidate, Human Biology & Science, NC State University Moderator Adapting Global Health to Meet a Changing Climate Reality Tracy Mitchell, MA, MS Director of Resilience and Climate Adaptation, RTI International Elizabeth McCormick Assistant Professor, UNC Charlotte PhD Candidate, NC State University Zachary Witkin, MPH Senior Growth & Partnerships Manager, YLabs Karen Setty, PhD Senior Manager, Research Translation, The Aquaya Institute Moderator Deepening Community Relationships Avindra Mandwal Senior Program Manager, IPAS Casey Bishopp Technical Officer II, Demand Generation & Marketing; FHI 360 Daphne de Souza Lima Sorensen CEO; MiracleFeet Suzanne Maman, PhD Associate Dean for Global Health, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Moderator Expanding Products & Product Development in New Markets Dhiren Thakker, PhD Founding President & CEO; MedAditus Paul L. Domanico, PhD Senior Director of Global Health Sciences, Clinton Health Access Initiative Audrey Fratus Senior Technical Officer, Product Development & Introduction, FHI 360 MPH Candidate, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Laneta Dorflinger, PhD Distinguished Scientist & Director, Product Development and Introduction; FHI 360 Moderator TechTalks: Interactive Sessions on Technology & its Role in Global Health Erika Samoff, PhD, MPH HIV/STD Surveillance Manager, North Carolina Division of Public Health Michael Levy, MBA CEO, Digital Health Institute for Transformation (DHIT) Brittany Barreto, PhD Founder & Chief innovation Officer, FemHealth Insights Host, FemTech Focus Podcast Forbes Contributor Nancy Warren, MPH Program Manager, RTI Moderator Local is Global: Bringing Global Health Back to North Carolina! Nicolle Miller, MS, MPH, RD Interim Director and a Senior Project Lead for Public Sector & Systems on the North Carolina team; Partners In Health – United States Eve Puffer, PhD Director, Duke Global Mental Health Program; Duke Global Health Institute Associate Professor, Psychology & Neuroscience and Global Health; Duke University Julie Swann, PhD A. Doug Allison Distinguished Professor; College of Engineering, NC State University Head of the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering; College of Engineering, NC State University Michelle Hindin, PhD, MHS Director, Global Health & Population Research; FHI 360 Moderator Public Health & the People: The Engagement of Users in Systems & Solutions Felicia A. Browne, ScD, MPH Senior Research Social Epidemiologist, RTI International Solomon Ayehu, MD, MSc Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) Candidate, MIDP Fellow, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University Vandana Shah Vice President, Health Systems Strengthening, Global Health Advocacy Incubator Host Margaret D. Louey, PhD PMP Senior Technical Manager, Global Health Sciences, Clinton Health Access Initiative Paul L. Domanico, PhD Senior Director of Global Health Sciences, Clinton Health Access Initiative Jasmine Benner Graduate Student Intern, RTI International MPH Candidate, Michigan State University 5-Minute Lightning Talks: Global Health at a Glance Benjamin Mukumbya, MS Research Technician, Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology Rachel Couper Senior Global Health Specialist, DAI Hannah Dewey PhD Candidate in Fiber & Polymer Science, Wilson College of Textiles, North Carolina State University Host Lihan Chen Graduate Student, Department of Chemistry, NC State University Host Jessica Parzygnat PhD Candidate, NC State University Gayoung Lee MPH Candidate in Applied Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Lauren Enochs UNC Summer Fellow, IntraHealth International MPH Candidate MCFH, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health With a live musical performance from Diali Cissokho and Will Ridenour ! Thank you to our 2023 Conference Sponsors!

The North Carolina Global Health Alliance Urges North Carolina's Congressional Delegation to Advocate for the Reversal of the Stop Work Order The North Carolina Global Health Alliance urges members of the North Carolina Congressional Delegation to immediately advocate for the reversal of the State Department's recent Stop Work Order, which freezes all existing foreign assistance programming and pauses new aid, with limited exceptions. It is critical that policymakers act swiftly to reverse this decision. Read the North Carolina Global Health Alliance's full statement on this issue below. January 27, 2025 The North Carolina Global Health Alliance (NCGHA) expresses deep concerns regarding the State Department’s recently issued “Stop Work Order,” which freezes existing foreign assistance programming and pauses new aid, with very limited exceptions. This action follows the President’s Executive Order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid mandating a review of U.S. foreign assistance programs, yet the Stop Work Order goes beyond this mandate, jeopardizing the health, security, and prosperity of both our nation and North Carolina. The North Carolina Global Health Alliance supports efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of foreign assistance programs. However, this important review must not come at the cost of interrupting critical ongoing initiatives. On behalf of the many North Carolinians dedicated to advancing U.S. foreign assistance efforts, the NCGHA urges North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation to take action to halt this order and advocate for the continuation of essential foreign assistance programs. The USAID-supported work happening here in North Carolina directly contributes to making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous and any interruption to funding and implementation puts the livelihoods of thousands of North Carolinians at risk. Economic Impact on North Carolina Foreign assistance programs, particularly those funded by USAID, significantly benefit North Carolina’s economy and communities. The 2022 report, “The Global Health Sector’s Contributions to North Carolina’s Economy ,” published by the NCGHA and RTI International, highlights how global health investments generate billions of dollars annually in economic activity for our state. The more than 900 global health institutions operating in North Carolina in 2021 sustained 170,000 jobs in our state across multiple sectors, and these institutions contributed $31.9 billion in total value added to North Carolina’s economy. According to data from USA Spending , North Carolina implementers have received the fourth-largest amount of USAID obligations nationwide, trailing only Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. This almost $1 billion in USAID funding to North Carolina institutions has supported thousands of high-quality jobs across sectors, from research and innovation to health systems strengthening, positioning our state as a global leader in foreign assistance implementation. Risks of the Stop Work Order The critical work conducted by USAID-funded non-profits, universities, and businesses headquartered in our state serve to both mitigate threats to our national security and foster economic growth that benefits North Carolinians and Americans nationwide. The indiscriminate implementation of the Stop Work Order undermines these benefits and jeopardizes national security, economic stability, and government efficiency. Specifically: National Security Risks: Foreign assistance programs address root causes of instability, such as poverty, disease, and conflict. Pausing these initiatives creates a vacuum that strategic competitors can exploit, undermining U.S. influence and destabilizing regions vital to our interests. Economic Disruption: Halting foreign assistance programs disrupts funding streams to North Carolina-based institutions, leading to immediate job losses and economic instability. Restarting these programs later will incur higher costs and delays, compounding inefficiencies. Public Health Threats: Interrupting health programs risks the resurgence of diseases and the unchecked spread of infectious pathogens. This threatens global health security and, ultimately, the safety of Americans at home. Advancing American Strength and Prosperity USAID-funded programs are strategic investments that promote stability, expand markets for U.S. goods and services, and build goodwill abroad. North Carolinians engaged in this work take immense pride in representing American interests globally, serving as front-line diplomats who foster alliances, counter extremism, and advance health and prosperity. By ensuring the continuation of these programs, the United States strengthens its global leadership and reaffirms its commitment to security, economic growth, and humanitarian values—principles that resonate deeply with North Carolinians. Call to Action North Carolina’s leadership is critical in addressing this urgent matter. The NCGHA urges our Congressional Delegation to: Advocate for the immediate reversal of the Stop Work Order to prevent unnecessary disruptions to vital foreign assistance programs. Support efforts to establish a transparent and efficient review process that allows development institutions to demonstrate compliance with America First principles without undermining their ability to deliver impactful programming. Emphasize the critical role North Carolina implementers play in advancing national security, driving economic growth, and promoting global stability in your discussions with State Department and Congressional colleagues.