It is a privilege to join the Yale Institute for Global Health at such a dynamic moment for the Institute, for Yale, and for the field of global health more broadly. I step into this role with deep respect for YIGH’s history and an appreciation for the many people, including faculty, students, trainees, staff, and partners, who have built its reputation as a place where ideas, evidence, and action come together.
There is no question that global health is experiencing a period of transition. Longstanding models are being reassessed, funding landscapes are shifting, and institutions around the world are asking how best to respond to complex, interconnected challenges. Yet this moment is not defined by uncertainty alone. It is also shaped by extraordinary progress achieved over recent decades—progress that has saved lives, strengthened health systems, expanded scientific knowledge, and demonstrated the power of collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and borders.
From advances in infectious disease prevention and treatment to innovations in maternal and child health, planetary health and climate resilience, and epidemic preparedness and response, global health has repeatedly shown what is possible when research is paired with partnership and purpose. These gains matter. They provide both evidence and inspiration as we consider how the field, and YIGH, can continue to evolve.
As we look ahead, YIGH has an opportunity to build on its strengths while reimagining how an academic institute can best serve today’s global health ecosystem. Developing the Institute’s next strategy, what we might think of as YIGH’s next chapter, will be a collaborative, inclusive, and listening process, shaped by the voices and experiences of the community it is meant to serve.
Over the coming months, my priority will be to engage deeply with faculty across Yale, with students and trainees at different stages of their careers, and with partners working on the front lines of global health policy and practice. I want to understand what is working well, where barriers remain, and where YIGH can add the greatest value, whether through research, education, convening, or partnership. Listening will be essential, not only to honor YIGH’s legacy, but to ensure its future relevance and impact.
At its best, global health is fundamentally collaborative. It draws strength from interdisciplinary thinking, from equitable partnerships, and from the recognition that solutions are most durable when they are informed by those closest to the challenges. These principles will guide how we approach strategy development at YIGH and how we define success.
Equally important is our responsibility to the next generation of global health leaders. Students and trainees are entering the field at a moment ripe with challenge and evolution, and they are bringing new perspectives, skills, and expectations with them. YIGH must continue to be a place that supports their learning, fosters critical thinking, and prepares them to engage thoughtfully and ethically in a rapidly changing world.
I am optimistic about what lies ahead. Not because the work is easy, but because the global health community has consistently demonstrated resilience, creativity, and commitment in the face of complexity. By building on evidence, centering partnership, and remaining open to new ways of working, YIGH can continue to play a meaningful role in advancing health and equity globally.
I look forward to learning from you, working alongside you, and shaping this next chapter together.