During a time of unprecedented shifts in U.S. global health and development assistance, from March 10th – 11th, 20 Yale students traveled to Washington, DC for the U.S. Global Health Policy and Advocacy Study Tour. During the visit, the group met global health policy experts, advocates, and congressional staff to understand the policy-making process and learn about strategies to advocate for global health.
The delegation represented diverse academic backgrounds and programs, including the Yale Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing, and Yale College. The students’ wide range of knowledge and interests contributed to interdisciplinary conversations, including discussions around how students could get involved in global health advocacy in their respective fields.
The study tour gave students a first-hand look at what’s happening in Washington, DC right now. This was an experience that went beyond the classroom, where we learned from experts that are working on global health policy every day.
Olivia McCarthy, MPH ’26, YIGH Advocacy Fellow
The Global Health Policy Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) hosted the group for the two-day program. “It took no small courage for the team assembled by the Yale Institute for Global Health to brave Washington, DC in the midst of such historic turmoil. Diving into the deep end of the pool, and navigating carefully and thoughtfully, is a smart way to grasp the complexity of the profound changes under way and help inform first-hand students’ thinking about their personal and professional futures,” said J. Stephen Morrison, Senior Vice President and Director of the Global Health Policy Center at CSIS. “They proved something very important– come early, be patient and inquisitive, and it will pay off. We at CSIS remain very pleased and proud to partner with the Institute.”
The study tour began with a panel focused on understanding the current landscape of U.S. global health policy. In addition to Morrison, other experts on the panel included Katherine Bliss, Senior Fellow and Director, Immunizations and Health Systems Resilience, Global Health Policy Center, CSIS; Jen Kates, Senior Vice President, Director of Global Health & HIV Policy, KFF; and Josh Michaud, Associate Director, Global Health and HIV Policy, KFF. A panel of advocates representing four different organizations spoke with the students about how their work has been impacted by the new Administration and what strategies they are using to support global health in the current landscape. These sessions were followed by a conversation with former Representative Ted Yoho (FL–3), who shared his journey from opposing to supporting foreign aid, including global health.
Meeting with experts and change-makers who are pushing for progress in health policy has reinforced my commitment to this field. It was a chance to see how dedicated individuals, often behind the scenes, are working tirelessly to create meaningful, lasting change for communities in the U.S. and worldwide.
Shankeri Vijaykumar, MPH ‘25, YIGH Leadership in Global Health Fellow 2024
The group also visited Capitol Hill to better understand the role of the legislative branch in U.S. global health policy. They learned how policies are lobbied for, supported, and passed. Congressional staff described the budget and appropriations process and how it is used to secure funding for global health initiatives.
The second day of the study tour featured three panels. The first included the advocacy team from the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) to discuss the role of academic institutions and their students in advocating for global health. During the second panel, global health policy experts with experience in academia, government, and multilateral institutions including GAVI and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria shared their views on the future of U.S. global health policy and programs. The study tour concluded with an engaging conversation with professionals at CSIS on their career journeys.
Many of the students expressed that the trip inspired them to consider different career options and challenged the way they viewed their roles in global health.
Although I was already an aspiring policymaker before the trip, this tour has inspired me to get closer to the federal government. As of now, I am interested in learning more about the inner workings of Congress and joining those who care about fighting for health equity and justice for people in the U.S. and around the globe.
Lusangelis Ramos, SY '25
“The expertise and commitment of our panelists and the engagement and energy from the students was inspiring,” said Mike Skonieczny, Deputy Director, Yale Institute for Global Health. “Our goal is for the study tour to play a small, but important role in training the next generation of leadership that will have a positive impact on U.S. global health policy, improving the health and wellbeing of communities around the world.”