Plans to create a Center for Global Health and Development (CGHAD) in the UNMC College of Public Health were recently approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.
The creation of the center shows that UNMC recognizes a need to be a global leader and to expand opportunities for its faculty and students in global health, said Ayman El-Mohandes, M.B.B.Ch., M.D., M.P.H., dean of UNMC’s College of Public Health.
"Our goal is to build on existing international partnerships and expand those efforts to create unique opportunities for students and faculty," Dr. El-Mohandes said.
The center will expand the students’ exposure to global health issues and experiences and help enable international research and practice partnerships for UNMC faculty.
A global health center team is currently developing relationships with the Asia Institute of Public Health in India.
The team also is part of a consortium of multiple U.S. academic institutions and partners in Africa and Asia that will offer students and faculty opportunities to participate in public health programs in Bangladesh, China, Kenya and Egypt.
"The center will help the state of Nebraska emerge as an important global player in all domains of public health," said Pinaki Panigrahi, M.D., Ph.D., new director of the CGHAD in UNMC’s College of Public Health. "Our faculty and students can take full advantage of the vibrant platform for personal career development while contributing their experience to maintain UNMC’s global reputation."
The center will focus on several areas, including:
- Maternal and child health;
- Health services research;
- Environmental and occupational health;
- Disaster management; and
- Cancer control, prevention and research.
As the state’s only academic health science center, UNMC is on the leading edge of health care. Breakthroughs are possible because hard-working researchers, educators and clinicians are resolved to work together to fuel discovery. In 2009, UNMC’s extramural research support topped $100 million for the first time, resulting in the creation of 3,600 jobs in Nebraska. UNMC’s academic excellence is shown through its award-winning programs, and its educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution. Through its commitment to education, research, patient care and outreach, UNMC and its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, have established themselves as one of the country’s leading health care centers. UNMC’s physician practice group, UNMC Physicians, includes 550 physicians in 50 specialties and subspecialties who practice primarily in The Nebraska Medical Center. For more information, go to UNMC’s Web site at www.unmc.edu.
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