Current Members Ready to join us? Email us at members@ncglobalhealth.org to get started. Stay in the loop. The best way to stay connected is to subscribe to our newsletter* & follow us on LinkedIn. JOIN US *Be sure to check your spam after signing up for our newsletter & confirm your subscription.

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

< Back USAID Contract Terminations & the Impact on the Global Health Sector in North Carolina NC Global Health Alliance Sep 30, 2025 An Urgent Workforce Challenge Since January 20, 2025, the NCGHA has tracked how many North Carolina jobs have been lost due to USAID contract terminations. Job data sourced directly from impacted institutions, impacted individuals, WARN system, NC Commerce, press releases, and media. Contract data sourced directly from USASpending.gov, impacted institutions, USAID Stop Work, and AID on the Hill. NORTH CAROLINA’S GLOBAL HEALTH SECTOR AT A GLANCE The global health sector adds $31.9B to North Carolina’s economy per year. Over 900 NC global health institutions operate in more than 175 countries. In 2021, global health organizations employed more than 56,000 direct global health jobs in North Carolina and sustained an additional 117,850 jobs across multiple sectors. North Carolina is home to one of the most sophisticated global health ecosystems in the nation, anchored by world class institutions including RTI International, FHI 360, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, and Duke Global Health Institute. Historically, the sector has been a stable, high-wage, and high-skill employer. IMPACT OF RECENT FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS NC is the fourth-highest state recipient of USAID funding; NC won $1B in awards in 2024. Since January 2025, North Carolina institutions lost $3 billion in future payments with 86% of USAID-funded awards terminated. As of September 2025, at least 625 North Carolinians lost their jobs as a direct result of USAID cuts. Ripple effects are impacting partner institutions, contractors, and students across the state. Impacted workers face a decimated job market and intense competition for remaining positions. WHY THIS MATTERS FOR NORTH CAROLINA Global Competitiveness – NC’s reputation as a global health leader is at stake; loss of capacity jeopardizes our ability to remain a beacon for innovation on the global stage. Economic Impact – Global health organizations bring federal and philanthropic dollars into NC, fueling local economies. Job losses threaten regional economic stability. Brain Drain Risk – Skilled professionals are being offered to leave NC for opportunities elsewhere, eroding decades of sector expertise that would otherwise strengthen high-demand industries in NC. WHAT WE’RE HEARING FROM IMPACTED WORKERS “ I am a PhD educated public health researcher… and I am now trying to figure out if we need to move outside the city or to another state .” – J.A., Carrboro “ Over the past 7 months, I’ve submitted over 2,000 job applications, have networked with over 100 individuals… nearly every sector I’ve looked at and networked in continues to face enormous numbers of overqualified applicants, hiring freezes and layoffs. As a single parent and the sole provider for my family, I am struggling with how to proceed .” – A.T., Apex OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMEDIATE COORDINATED ACTION Tap the Talent – Work with existing statewide resources to elevate these professionals to prioritize transition into our booming biosciences, life-sciences, rural health, and innovation sectors. Cross-Sector Job Matching – Leverage transferable skills into life sciences, public health, education, social services, tech, and other public and private sector roles in-state. Rapid Response Workforce Support – Career transition resources, retraining programs, and targeted job fairs for displaced global health professionals & other impacted workers. Pipeline Preservation – Support internships, fellowships, and apprenticeships to keep students and early-career talent in the state. Previous Next

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.

North Carolina Global Health Alliance Career Center Click below to find job opportunities from our member organizations! Want to highlight a job in our newsletter or social media? Send it to executivedirector@ncglobalhealth.org to be featured. Not a member of the NCGHA? Email us to find out how you can get your jobs featured. Event Sponsor Mission: To make North Carolina the healthiest state in the nation. Mission: FHI 360 advances equity, health and well-being through data-driven, locally led solutions – so that humanity thrives. Mission: To improve public health and economic prosperity in informal settlements by partnering with communities to strengthen systems, reduce inequalities, and improve access to quality health care, education, and economic opportunities. Mission: To improve the performance of health workers and strengthen the systems in which they work. Mission: To promote mutual understanding between the people of North Carolina’s Triangle region and the international community through education, cultural exchange, arts, and the celebration of achievements. Mission: To achieve health equity for vulnerable groups and individuals around the world through research, education and partnership. Mission: To harness health technology and innovation that empowers human action. Mission: To serve as a center for research, scholarship, and creativity and to teach a diverse community of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to become the next generation of leaders. Mission: As a research-extensive land-grant university, North Carolina State University is dedicated to excellent teaching, the creation and application of knowledge, and engagement with public and private partners. Mission: To end health inequities through transformative excellence in education, clinical practice, and nursing science. Mission: To advance global health equity by promoting and facilitating collaboration to drive impactful innovation. Mission: To partner with underserved communities to make measurable and sustainable improvements in their health and wellbeing. Mission: To build resilient abortion and contraceptive ecosystems using a comprehensive approach across sectors, institutions, and communities. Mission: To build human capacity and technical capability for creating better access to medicine in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mission: Increases access to proper treatment for children born with clubfoot in low- and middle-income countries through partnerships with local healthcare providers. Mission: To discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives. Mission: To provide long-term economic and societal benefits to NC by supporting biotechnology research, business, education, and strategic policy statewide. Mission: To design technologies that amplify youth power, agency, and opportunity. Thank you to our sponsor.

< Back Foreign Aid Workers Call on Triangle Officials to Condemn USAID Funding Freeze Lena Geller Mar 7, 2025 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. Indy Week's Lena Geller reports on the Durham City Council meeting and impact felt by North Carolina residents as a result of USAID's shuttering. Please follow the below link to read more: https://indyweek.com/news/durham/amid-mass-layoffs-triangle-foreign-aid-workers-call-on-triangle-officials-to-condemn-usaid-funding-freeze/ Previous Next

< Back North Carolina News CBS17 Coverage of NCGHA Statements Keaton Eberly, CBS17 Feb 4, 2025 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 USAID turmoil: NC Global Health Alliance urge state lawmakers to save foreign aid programs https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/nc-health-leaders-stress-immediate-action-as-trump-administration-aims-to-shut-down-u-s-aid-agency/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=socialflow Previous Next

< Back NCGHA Meets with Congresswoman Deborah Ross Feb 19, 2025 NCGHA, Member Representatives, and Students from UNC Discuss How the Closure of USAID and the Stop Work Order have Effected North Carolina On February 18, the NCGHA was honored to host a roundtable for our member institutions to meet with Congresswoman Deborah Ross, the US Representative for North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District. In addition to highlighting the top-tier global health work coming out of her district, this meeting served as an opportunity to put a spotlight on the immediate impacts that the Stop Work Order has had on employment in North Carolina, on the health and wellbeing of individuals globally, and on our country's national security. Representative Ross was sympathetic to our community's messages and encouraged us to continue collecting stories of impact that can help decision makers understand the toll this is having on our state. If you or your institution have been impacted by the recent Stop Work Order and you would like your story amplified, please reach out to us at members@ncglobalhealth.org - we will be happy to work with you to ensure decision makers hear your voice. Previous Next

Events You're Invited to the 2026 NCGHA Fall Event AI for Global Health: Shaping the Future through People-Centered Innovation Friday, November 6, 2026 | Durham NC Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way health services are delivered around the world, creating new opportunities to expand access, improve quality, and strengthen health systems. Join leaders from across academia, industry, government, and the nonprofit sector to explore how people-centered AI is being applied in practice, and what it will take to ensure these innovations improve health outcomes for all. Early Bird Registration is Live! Date Friday, November 6, 2026 Time 8:30 am - 2:30 pm ET Location North Carolina Central University, Durham NC Register Today! Agenda coming soon Thank you to our sponsors! Platinum Sponsor Interested in sponsoring this year's event? Email us us at members@ncglobalhealth.org to get started. Past Events 2026 Spring Event: the Global Health Workforce 2026 NC Global Health Career Week 2025 Fall Event: Global Health in Transition 14 November 2025 2025 Spring Event: Global Health Futures Symposium 25 April 2025 2025 NC Global Health Career Week 2024 Annual Conference: Bridging North Carolina with the World Show More

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

Keynote Speaker Peter Kilmarx, MD Deputy Director, Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Featured Speaker Secretary Kody Kinsley Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services Plenary Panel Suzanne Maman, PhD Associate Dean for Global Health, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Lindsey Bickers Block, MPH Director of Health Education & Community Transformation, Durham County Department of Public Health Francis Lajara de los Reyes III, PhD Glenn E. & Phyllis J. Futrell Distinguished Professor & University Faculty Scholar, Dept. of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, NC State University Liz Mallas Law, MPA, MS, MA Director, FOCUS Regional Lead, NC, SC, AR, Gilead Sciences Chris Beyrer, MD, MPH Director, Duke Global Health Institute Moderator Closing Remarks Congresswoman Deborah Ross United States Representative for North Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District Concurrent Sessions Countering Misinformation on the Journey to Earning Trust Brian Southwell, PhD, MA Distinguished Fellow & Lead Scientist for Public Understanding of Science, RTI International Erin Fry Sosne, MPH Director of Strategy, Department of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services Kathie Dello, PhD State Climatologist of North Carolina Director, North Carolina State Climate Office Sachiko Ozawa, PhD, MHS Associate Professor, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Global to America's Local: Learning from Global Health Models to Address American Challenges Pearl Friedberg Program Support Director, Ipas Jenny Jensen, MSN, MPH, RN Chief Nursing Officer, Family Connects International Lauren Bevington, LCSW, MBA Implementation Consultant, BroadReach Group Kristen Sullivan, PhD, MSW, MBA Director of Undergraduate Programs, Global One Health Academy, NCSU Moderator North Carolina Leadership for Global Impact Michelle Ries, MPH President & CEO, North Carolina Institute of Medicine Peter Cassidy, FACHE Vice President, Atrium Health Brandon Young, PhD Senior Medical Science Liaison, CSL Seqirus Solomon Ayehu, MD, MSc, MIDP Research Assistant, Duke Global Health Institute; Duke Sanford School of Public Policy, MIDP '24 Moderator Conflict to Community: The Continuum of Care from Displacement to Resettlement Jennifer Toller Erausquin, PhD Associate Professor, Public Health Education, UNC Greensboro Tra Tran, MS Research Coordinator, Refugee Community Partnerships Coy Isaacs Senior Director, Crisis Response and Resilience, FHI 360 Cristina España Deputy Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Office of NC Governor Cooper Moderator Addressing Global Health Priorities in North Carolina Communities Nick Galvez, MBA, CCMA Rural Hospital Program Manager, NC Department of Health & Human Services Ross Boyce, MD, MSc Assistant Professor of Medicine, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, UNC School of Medicine & UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Mercedes Bravo, PhD Assistant Research Professor of Global Health & Associate Director for Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, Duke Global Health Institute Zainab Alidina, PhD, MPH Data and Evaluation Manager, The Center for Child & Family Health Moderator New Models of Leadership for Tomorrow's Global Health Katherine Turner, MPH President and Founder, Global Citizen LLC; Adjunct Professor, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health LaHoma Smith Romocki, PhD, MPH Professor & Department Chair, Public Health Education, North Carolina Central University Karah Pedersen, MPH Deputy Director of Business Development, IntraHealth International Poster Presentations See the agenda here! Conference Agenda Thank You to Our 2024 Conference Sponsors! Gold Level Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors Sustaining Sponsors Mastro Global, LLC Want to showcase your institution to North Carolina's top global health professionals? Email us at Members@ncglobalhealth.org to learn more about sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities!

< 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