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2024 North Carolina Global Health Conference POSTER PRESENTATIONS Tuesday, October 22, 2024 McKimmon Center 1101 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606 Click Here to View a Map of the McKimmon Center! See our full list of speakers here! Conference Speakers Poster Presentations 8:15 am - 9:00 am Revisit the posters you missed at 12:45 Room 2 Developing a Differentiated Care Model Strategy for People Returning to HIV Care in Cape Town, South Africa Ashima Agarwal, MPH Candidate 2025, UNC Chapel Hill A Tailored Approach: Population and Sex-Specific Anthropometrics Thresholds for Qatari's Rawan Ajeen, PhD Candidate 2025, UNC Chapel Hill Drivers of Physicians' Migrations from Ethiopia to the US: A Mixed Methods Study Solomon Ayehu, MD, MSc MIDP, Duke University Working towards Equitable Practices in Global Health Partnerships and Programming Sarah Brittingham, MA, MPH , Technical Advisor, FHI 360 Adverse Childhood Experiences and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Ukrainian College Students: Mediating Role of Intimate Partner Violence and Lifetime Trauma Experience Julia Burlaka, PhD, CHES , Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Viktor Burlaka, LMSW, PhD, Professor of Social Work, School of Health and Human Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Oleksii Serdiuk, PhD, Head of the Research Laboratory for Psychological Support of Law Enforcement, Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs; Kharkiv, UKRAINE (not present) Arash Javanbakht, M.D., Director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic at Wayne State University, School of Medicine (not present) The Association Between Race and Rurality on Maternal Outcomes in North Carolina Ebony Burns, DHA, MHA , Clinical Research Professional How does a Free Childcare Center at a Local Hospital Improve Access to Healthcare for Mothers? Sydney Chen , BA Global Health Candidate 2025, Duke University Heterogeneous spatial distribution of knock-down resistance F1534S mutations in Aedes albopictus in Wake County, North Carolina Jessica Ding, PhD Candidate 2028, North Carolina State University Tomo Adams, PhD Candidate 2029, North Carolina State University Increased prevalence of hypertension in dental screening patients in Mosoriot, Kenya Amy Gillespie , Doctor of Dental Surgery Candidate 2027, UNC Adams School of Dentistry Evaluating the Breastfeeding-Friendly Community Partner Initiative in Durham, North Carolina Kimberley Glover, MPH 2024, Temple University Do Elderly Men and Women Experience Grief Differently? Investigating Gender Differential Impacts of Spousal Bereavement on Health Outcomes Among Older Adults in the United States Elena Granowsky , BA Global Health Candidate 2025, Duke University Lauren Tse, BS Economics Candidate 2025, Duke University Longitudinal Mental Health Outcomes for Transitioning OSCYAs in Udayan Care Rohan Gupta, BS Psychology Candidate 2025, Duke University Chidimma Umerah, Duke University Pratikchhya Rimal, Duke University Assessing the antenatal care-seeking determinants associated with the penetration of the WHO eight-visit antenatal care policy across states in Nigeria Christiana Ikemeh, PhD Candidate 2025, UNC Gillings School of Global PUblic Health, UNC Chapel Hill Leah M. Frerichs, PhD, Associate professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill (not present) Kazeem Arogundade, MD, Bruyere Research institute, Ottawa, Canada (not present) Adedayo O. Adeyemi, PhD, Director, Center for Infectious Diseases Research and Evaluation, Lafia, Nasarawa state, Nigeria (not present) Christopher M. Shea, PhD, Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill (not present) Justin G. Trogdon, PhD, Professor, Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill (not present) Effects of self-reported health, obesity, and hypertension on the likelihood of having health insurance in Mexico Lirui Jiao , PhD Candidate 2028, UNC Chapel Hill Delays in seeking care among pediatric cancer patients: A qualitative study in Northern Tanzania Happiness Kajoka, MD, Msc Candidate 2025, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tanzania Ingredients for Success: Factors associated with successful integration of depression care into non-communicable disease clinics in Malawi: A mixed-methods analysis Abigail Morrison, PhD Candidate 2025, Department of Health Behavior, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC Chapel Hill Childhood vaccination prevalence and perception in Roatán, Honduras Madeline Morrison, BA Global Health Candidate 2026 Grace Muriithi, BA Global Health Candidate 2026 Reena Kagan, BA Global Health Candidate 2026 (not present) Arya Kumar, BS Biomedical Engineering Candidate 2027 (not present) Barriers to Effective Pain Management in Sickle Cell Disease: Voices of Patients, Caregivers, and Healthcare Providers in Kenya Ashita Nazareth , MSc Candidate 2025, Duke Global Health Institute From Research to Practice: Integrating Telehealth Counseling for Suicide Prevention Among People Living with HIV in Tanzania’s Healthcare System Paul Ngangula , MSc Candidate 2025, Duke Global Health Institute Weather Extremes Modify the Efficacy of Sanitation Interventions on Fecal Contamination in Rural Bangladeshi Households Caitlin Niven , PhD Candidate, North Carolina State University Psychological Burden and Social Support Needs Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease in Kenya Yvonne Ochieng, PhD Clinical Psychology 2029, Duke University A Mixed-Methods Review and Recommendations for Improving Community Engaged Contracting Process for Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Araba Oduro, MD , MPH Candidate 2025, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health What is the future of INGOs: Perspectives from the Transforming INGO Models for Equity (TIME) Initiative Catherine Packer, MSPH , Technical Advisor, FHI 360 Kim Kucinskas, Technical Director, Organizational Transformation, Humentum (not present) Robyn Sneeringer, Chief of Staff, EngenderHealth (not present) An Evaluation of the KIKOP Care Group Training Cascade in Kisii, Kenya Shriti Pant, MPH Candidate 2025, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, & Curamericas Intern Kaitlin Polgar, MPH Candidate 2025, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, & Curamericas Intern The Role of Faith in Suicide Prevention Among People Living with HIV: Perspectives of Religious Leaders and Mental Health Workers in Tanzania Ryan Parker, MSc Candidate 2025, Duke Global Health Institute Factors Influencing Hypertension Treatment Adherence in East Africa: a Scoping Review Mirlene Perry, PhD Candidate 2026/2027, Duke University School of Nursing Dengue Virus Seroprevalence in Kinshasa, DRC Rachel Sendor, MPH , PhD Candidate 2025, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Investigating Use of Coping Strategies and Mental Health of Transitioning OSCs in Udayan Care Akhilesh Shivaramakrishnan , BA Global Health Candidate 2025, Duke Global Health Institute Alek Mishra, Duke Global Health Institute Seth Liyanapathirana, Duke Global Health Institute Virtual versus Reality: A Comparative Analysis of Medical Advice Quality in Direct-to-Consumer Telemedicine and In-Person Consultations Shuyi Song, PhD Candidate 2027, UNC Chapel Hill Youth Engagement in Contraceptive R&D: Why & How? Becca Stern, BSPH Candidate 2025, UNC Chapel Hill, Youth Council Member at FHI 360 Addressing Unscheduled Hospital Readmissions: Insights from Northern Tanzania Frijenia Sumbai, MD, MSc Candidate 2025, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tanzania Public-Private Partnerships in India’s Covid-19 Response: Exploring Private Sector Perspectives on Pandemic Lessons and Future Pandemic Preparedness Ei Ei Swe, MB, BS, MSc , Duke University Association of Flooring Material with E. coli Contamination in Rural Bangladeshi Households Sumaiya Tazin , PhD Candidate 2026, North Carolina State University Optimizing Child Nutrition in Mali: A Data-Driven Approach to Tackling Malnutrition through Community Engagement Aklil Tessema, BA Candidate 2024, UNC Chapel HIll Preliminary mixed-methods analysis of disability prevalence and resource needs for persons with disabilities on Roatán, Honduras Hishi Ulak , BA Global Health Candidate 2025, Duke Global Health Institute Global Roles in Local Context: Enhancing Medicaid Expansion in Rural North Carolina Through Community Health Workers Harris Upchurch, BS Biology & Global Health 2024, Duke University Empowerment among treatment-engaged individuals living with schizophrenia in Tanzania Madeline Van Husen , MSW/MPH Candidate 2025, UNC Chapel Hill Relationships between epigenetic age in young adulthood to early-life and adult BMI differ between males and females Romaniya Voloshchuk, PhD Candidate, UNC Chapel Hill Advancing Community-Led HPV Screening Through Mobile Health App Development: Iterative Improvements of mSaada in Kisumu, Kenya Skylar Webb , BA Environmental Science & Policy, BA Global Health Candidate 2025, Duke Global Health Institute Sahil Choudhri, Duke Global Health Institute Afraaz Malick, Duke Global Health Institute Kelsey Goldwein, Duke Global Health Institute Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research Scoping Review Roger Williams, MPH, MA , Protocol Manager and Project Coordinator, RTI International Anika Hannan, MPH , Research Public Health Analyst for Monitoring & Evaluation, RTI International Thank You to Our 2024 Conference Sponsors! Gold Level Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors Sustaining Sponsors Mastro Global, LLC

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< Back CNN Investigates: Impacts on North Carolina Curt Devine, Casey Tolan, Kyung Lah, Audrey Ash and Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Mar 3, 2025 An interview with effected aid workers and the NCGHA. View the article in full at the link below https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/politics/trump-funding-cuts-usaid-nih-north-carolina-invs/index.html 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

The 2022 NC Global Health Annual Conference 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? The 2022 Annual Conference explored 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. Thank you to all of the amazing presenters, speakers, attendees, and sponsors who made the 2022 NC Global Health Annual Conference such a success! Thank You to Our 2022 Annual Conference Sponsors Platinum Sponsors Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors ...And a Huge Thank You to Our Awesome 2022 NC Global Health Annual Conference Planning Committee Laura Hoemeke , DrPH - Senior Consultant, Clear Outcomes; Adjunct Professor, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Sydney Nadel , MPH - Advanced Implementation Specialist, Family Connects International Valerie Flax , PhD - Senior Research Public Health Analyst, RTI International Katrina Kulik , MAS - Operations and Development Manager, CFK Africa Suzanne Mama n, PhD - Associate Dean for Global Health, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Naya Villarreal , MPH - Global Health Associate Director, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Kathy Walmer , MSN - Executive Director, Family Health Ministries Sut Soneja , PhD - Epidemiologist and Lead Public Health Specialist, MITRE Hannah Bain Lineberger - Communications Manager, CFK Africa André Anthony - Executive Director, North Carolina Global Health Alliance Heather Vahdat , MPH - Executive Director, Male Contraceptive Initiative Brittany Trottier , MPH - Health Specialist, NIEHS Aubrey Weber , MPH - Senior Technical Officer for Science Facilitation, FHI 360 Jennifer Schroeder Tyson , MPH - Lecturer, Appalachian State University Grace Ruffin - Career Development and Community Engagement Intern, North Carolina Global Health Alliance

Our Mission & Vision The North Carolina Global Health Alliance (NCGHA) 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 Vision The North Carolina Global Health Alliance envisions a world in which collaboration and innovation lead to healthier communities. Our Mission The North Carolina Global Health Alliance works 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, non-profit, and for-profit organizations in this collaborative effort. Our Objectives Connect Inform Prepare Advocate

< Back Carrboro Council Passes Resolution In Solidarity With USAID Employees, Urges Restart of Federal Aid Brighton McConnell Mar 6, 2025 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 Please follow the below link to read the full story: https://chapelboro.com/news/local-government/carrboro-council-passes-resolution-in-solidarity-with-usaid-employees-urges-restart-of-federal-aid Previous Next

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 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

< 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

< Back Trump's cuts to funding for scientific research pose grave risks for RTP and global health Rusty Jacobs, WUNC May 5, 2025 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. Please click below to read/listen to the full article. https://www.wunc.org/2025-05-05/trumps-cuts-funding-scientific-research-rtp-global-health Previous Next

Board Chair Announcement A New Chapter for the North Carolina Global Health Alliance Leadership transitions are moments to reflect on where we've been, recognize those who helped us get here, and look ahead to what's next. We are excited to do all three as we celebrate the extraordinary service of our outgoing Board Chair, Dr. Tim Mastro, and welcome our new Board Chair, Dr. Jerry Bloomfield. July 1, 2026 Thank You, Dr. Tim Mastro For the past four years, Dr. Tim Mastro has provided steady, thoughtful leadership during one of the most transformative periods in the Alliance's history. Tim stepped into the role of Board Chair in 2022 after serving on the Board since 2015. He assumed leadership during a pivotal moment for the organization. We had just undergone a name change and rebrand, were emerging from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and were navigating an executive director transition. Tim successfully led the search for a new Executive Director, hiring Brianna Clarke-Schwelm in early 2023, and helped guide the organization into its next phase. As Board Chair, Tim was an invaluable partner during Brianna’s transition into the Executive Director role. His wise counsel and unwavering support helped the Alliance successfully return to hosting our first in-person conference since before the pandemic while continuing to strengthen the Alliance's programs and community. His leadership proved especially critical during the unprecedented challenges faced by the global health sector in 2025. As the closure of USAID sent shockwaves through North Carolina's global health community, Tim remained a steadfast advocate for our members and a trusted advisor as the Alliance responded rapidly to changing circumstances and strengthened our advocacy efforts on behalf of the sector. Throughout it all, Tim never wavered in his commitment to the Alliance or to the thousands of professionals across North Carolina dedicated to improving health around the world. His strategic leadership, generosity with his time and expertise, and deep belief in the importance of global health have helped position our organization for a stronger future. On behalf of the Alliance, our Board of Directors, our members, and the broader global health community, thank you, Tim. We are deeply grateful for your service and are delighted that you will continue serving on our Board as we enter this next chapter. Welcome, Dr. Jerry Bloomfield The Board is equally excited to welcome Dr. Jerry Bloomfield as the new Chair of the North Carolina Global Health Alliance Board of Directors. A member of the Alliance's Board since 2022, Jerry was unanimously elected Board Chair by the Board of Directors at its February 2026 quarterly meeting. Jerry brings decades of leadership and experience in global health, academia, medicine, and research. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Global Health at Duke University and serves as the Associate Director for Research at the Duke Global Health Institute. He leads a longstanding research and capacity building program on cardiovascular global health, which includes work in under-resourced communities in the US and a number of low- and middle-income country settings, including Kenya, where much of his work takes place. His collaborative approach makes him exceptionally well positioned to help lead the Alliance as we continue supporting North Carolina's global health community during a period of both challenge and opportunity. As we look ahead, we are excited to work alongside Jerry to build on the Alliance's momentum, strengthen our community, advocate for North Carolina's global health sector, and continue preparing the next generation of global health leaders. To learn more about Jerry's vision for the Alliance, what excites him most about this moment, and his priorities as Board Chair, read our conversation with him below. Please join us in thanking Dr. Tim Mastro for his remarkable leadership and welcoming Dr. Jerry Bloomfield as the North Carolina Global Health Alliance's new Board Chair. An interview with Dr. Jerry Bloomfield As you begin your term as Board Chair, what inspired you to take on this leadership role, and what does the North Carolina Global Health Alliance mean to you personally? I was inspired to take on this leadership role because of the crucial role the Alliance has played in North Carolina’s global health landscape over the last several years. I have been involved with the Alliance for about three years, beginning as a board member and as the representative for the Duke Global Health Institute. Before that, I interacted with the Alliance through its annual conferences, which gave me an early appreciation for its ability to bring people together across institutions and sectors. What has stood out to me is that the Alliance is a venue for sharing challenges, lessons learned, and best practices among stakeholders engaged in global health. I have also seen how the changing global health landscape is affecting students and emerging professionals, especially as the employment landscape has narrowed. I am particularly excited to be involved with the Alliance at a time when it can help students see a path forward and connect them to opportunities in the field. The global health landscape is changing rapidly. Why do you believe organizations like the North Carolina Global Health Alliance are especially important right now? Organizations like the Alliance are especially relevant right now because they can do the research, advocacy, and cross-linking that individual institutions are not always positioned to do on their own. The Alliance can look across academia, industry, health systems, nonprofits, and the public sector to identify shared challenges and opportunities, and then advocate for global health support with a more informed understanding of the broader landscape. The Alliance can also help speak to the general North Carolina population about why global health matters here at home. Global health is connected to our state’s economy, workforce, research enterprise, health systems, and communities. The Alliance can translate global health engagement into practical examples of how this work affects the broader public. What is your vision for the Alliance over the next few years, and what opportunities do you see for strengthening North Carolina’s role in global health? My vision for the Alliance over the next few years is to engage more deeply with members across the state and broaden the range of institutions and sectors involved in this work. There are many players in the global health landscape that we have not yet engaged as deeply as we could, particularly in the private sector. There are also universities and health systems across North Carolina that are active in global health but may not yet be as connected to the Alliance as they could be. In that sense, I would like to see the “NC” in the North Carolina Global Health Alliance become bigger over the next few years. By expanding engagement across the state, we can strengthen North Carolina’s role as a leader in global health. North Carolina is home to a remarkable global health community spanning academia, nonprofits, industry, healthcare, and government. How can the Alliance help bring these sectors together to create greater impact? The Alliance will be most successful at bringing different sectors together if we are able to clearly articulate the value of the Alliance to each of those sectors. We have done some of this work in the past, but there is still an opportunity to sharpen how we communicate that value to academia, industry, health systems, nonprofits, government, students, and emerging professionals. Once that value is clearer, it becomes a natural extension to leverage what the Alliance already does well: convening people and cross-fertilizing conversations. Our annual meetings and other regular engagements can create spaces where different sectors understand one another’s priorities, identify shared goals, and work collaboratively toward greater impact. What are you most excited about as you begin your tenure as Board Chair, and what upcoming opportunities or initiatives are you particularly looking forward to? I am most excited about engaging more deeply with our member institutions and their board representatives. The Alliance is strongest when its members are active and learning from one another. Our annual conference is always a rewarding opportunity to engage with partners across the state whose work I might otherwise read about in a journal article, hear about through colleagues, or see in the news. It is a real gift to interact with those professionals in person at our meetings. This past year, we were excited to welcome Advocate Health as the Alliance’s latest member, and I look forward to learning from their perspective and engaging with similar organizations across North Carolina. For students, emerging professionals, and long-time global health leaders across the state, what message would you like to share about how they can engage with and support the Alliance's mission? My message is simple: reach out and connect. The Alliance has multiple convening opportunities over the course of the year, and we would like to expand and broaden participation in those spaces. We want more students, emerging professionals, established leaders, and institutions to see the Alliance as a venue for connection and shared learning. That engagement can happen in person through our meetings and events, but it can also happen through our online platforms and communications. I would like the Alliance to be a place where people can learn about opportunities, share job postings, ask questions, make connections, and find resources within the broader North Carolina global health community.