PolyGlobal Event Recap: Global Health

This last week, I attended a PolyGlobal talk organized by Global Scholars Aaron M. ’25 and Nicholas A. ’25. Inspired by their passions for chemistry and international business, they have spent a portion of the school year organizing this event through their Global Scholars class. This talk, presented by University of Southern Californai (USC) professor and founding member of the USC GRIT Lab, Dr. Hannah Wipfli, explored subjects beyond global health, including resilience, community, and the impact of advocacy in shaping global health policy and outcomes. Dr. Wipfli has dedicated her life to the pursuit of equality through global health policy. The presentation began with a focus on resilience—how communities worldwide adapt and persist through public health crises. From pandemics to the ongoing struggle for equitable healthcare access, Dr Wipfli emphasized the necessity of innovation and determination. She shared stories of grassroots movements and student-run organizations that contributed to building healthcare infrastructure despite limited resources, demonstrating how perseverance can drive meaningful transformation. 

A key theme of the presentation was the impact of the United States' political structure on its engagement in global health. Dr. Wipfli discussed how the global healthcare system is expected to undergo rapid change over the next few years, as isolationist policies from the current United States administration have created a funding gap. She outlined how funding decisions, international collaborations, and geopolitical considerations shape health initiatives worldwide. The discussion underscored the reality that global health isn’t just a medical issue—it’s a political one. The recent cuts to USAID and other U.S. government-funded global health programs have raised serious concerns about the future of international health initiatives. These reductions are expected to have far-reaching consequences, affecting worldwide disease prevention, maternal and child health, and emergency response capabilities. Experts warn that these cuts could reverse decades of progress in global health, leading to higher mortality rates and weakened healthcare systems in low-income countries. Some organizations are seeking alternative funding sources, but the scale of the cuts makes it difficult to replace lost resources. Even significant systems like the WHO were deeply affected by these new policies, yet there is hope. While it may take time, a restructuring of the WHO and other international systems is expected to alleviate the impact of the United States' withdrawal of aid. Collaborating with private corporations, expanding the contributions and involvement of member countries, and focusing on core initiatives will allow the WHO to continue to function as a leading international body on health policy. Dr. Wipfli reflected that this isn’t necessarily as damaging on an international level as it allows there to be more equity in policy making without the presence of the United States at the table. She envisioned a future where the United States would play an essential role while being a leader in providing access to healthcare for people across the globe, particularly those in low-income and under-resourced countries. In the meantime, she expressed concern about the ability of the United States government to respond to another major health crisis, including another global pandemic. With an infrastructure gutted by current policy, she says the burden will fall on non-governmental connections and international aid to respond in case of an emergency. She pushed this point to demonstrate to the students just how critical their contributions to the industry are at this time.  

Dr. Wipfli ended the presentation with a call to action. She urged us to get involved in organizations that are working to make real change in providing universal health care across the globe. She pushed us to believe that just because our government chooses not to help doesn’t make us powerless. We must raise our voices much louder to let the world know that people are still fighting for them. Whether through research, activism, or volunteering, students were urged to see themselves as contributors to solutions. It’s easy to feel like change is out of our hands. However, seeing examples of people my age shaping policy made me realize that advocacy can start with us, the youth. After all, this is our world, and we have a duty to protect it for ourselves and each other. 

Global Scholar Nick A. ’25 said his favorite thing he heard from Dr. Wipfli was her saying, “There can be no world peace without health justice.” Aaron M. ’25 commented global health really is “local” as it starts within our own community. We are experiencing unprecedented changes domestically, which have far-reaching global implications. Yet we must collectively agree as a community to coordinate efforts to alleviate the stress of a changing environment around the future of global health. 

This presentation for me had a strong foundation in community resilience through periods of change and the use of new connections to reduce inequalities.