Collaboration is Key in Global Health

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Collaboration is Key in Global Health

The nature of Global Health work is in its name. Universal and all-encompassing, it aims at advancing health outcomes across regions and continents, unlimited in its quest by country borders.

More often than not, collaboration is key to achieving this goal.

The value of partnerships is well understood within the Duke University ecosystem. It’s why its three Global Health bodies – the Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI), the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI), and the Duke Kunshan Global Health Research Centre – constantly look for opportunities to work together on common issues of interest.

Given the synergistic, catalytic, and interdisciplinary nature of Global Health, the Duke ecosystem has already teamed up on cross-regional projects that tap on the resources and expertise of Duke faculty across the globe. Global mental health, climate change, and infectious diseases are three topics that each institute is largely interested in, and will put more collaborative focus on.

“It makes sense that we have convergence around these themes,” said Prof Chris Beyrer, Director of DGHI. “These topics show that we link our work with One Health and Planetary Health.”

Global Health work presents a geographical and sociocultural challenge. Language barriers, ethics, and questions of sustainability are always at the forefront of a Global Health practitioner’s mind. But what is a challenge is also an opportunity – by expanding one’s reach beyond usual geographical areas of work, one develops a more global perspective.

As researchers, educators, and advocates, one becomes proficient in navigating this wider landscape, learning how to maximise resources, bridge gaps, and draw relations between central themes that have often been worked on in silo.

Prof Chris Beyrer, Duke Global Health Institute

This is something that further collaborations between the Duke Global Health ecosystem aims to do.

A/ Prof Tan Hiang Khoon, SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute

“The convergence of two or three of our specified themes is a really sweet spot,” said Prof Tan Hiang Khoon, Director of SDGHI. “We could look at establishing signature programmes on the relation climate change has to mental health, or how mental health affects health systems.”

Recognising the importance of a global perspective, much thought is being put into the education of Global Health practitioners of the future, starting with student and postdoc exchanges that will take place across the three Duke campuses.

Apart from existing accredited programmes, all three Global Health bodies understand the value of executive courses and short non-degree courses as further ways of promoting learning and exchange. These include the upcoming Asian Institute for Healthcare Leadership and Management (Asian HEAL), which was formed with the goal of elevating the expertise of healthcare professionals across nations and sectors.

On such programmes, Prof Beyrer said, “There are market and business cases to be explored, which will take some time to put together, but we know that there is already great existing content, and enthusiasm from many governments and ministries of health for these programmes. Our goal is to prepare Global Health leaders for tomorrow.”

These reflections were made at a meeting between representatives at Duke Kunshan University, in conjunction with the 10^th anniversary celebrations of its Global Health programme. Leaders from the three organisations took the opportunity to hold a joint meeting to narrow down areas of collaboration in terms of research and education, all with the aim of developing future Global Health practitioners who will be able to advance breakthroughs in the field.

Faculty and staff of the Duke Global Health ecosystem at a joint meeting at Duke Kunshan University

There is much to do moving forward, and concrete steps have been put in place to capitalise on the great energy and enthusiasm that was felt at this joint meeting.

“It was great to be able to feel the Global Health community within these three campuses come together for meaningful and impactful bonding,” said Prof Tan. “Such opportunities are rare, but they are indicative of the amplified potential we have when we pool together our experience and expertise.”

Prof Shenglan Tang, Duke Kunshan University

“We want to keep this momentum going.” said Prof Shenglan Tang, Director of Global Health at Duke Kunshan University. “As such, thematic working groups will be set up for research and education. What is discussed there will ladder up into conversations involving leadership from each institute, so that we can we can push forward these collaborations in effective ways.”

Being connected to the Duke ecosystem and its respective extended networks, as well as to local government and philanthropic outlets, each of the three Duke Global Health bodies brings to the table a wealth of resources and connections that all organisations can tap into to fulfil goals in research, education, or health systems strengthening and capacity building.

“As we explore these opportunities, we can use the Duke brand as a selling point to leverage on our unique position and capabilities in Global Health,” said Prof Tan. “By working closely together, the Duke ecosystem is exquisitely poised to do Global Health work that no one else can do.”

The Duke Global Health Institute was formed in 2006 as part of Duke University’s commitment to spark innovation in Global Health research and education, bringing together knowledge and resources from across the university to address the most important Global Health issues of our time.

The SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute seeks to tackle prevalent health challenges, strengthen health systems, and better insulate countries from pandemics and disease threats. Harnessing the strengths and expertise of SingHealth and Duke-NUS Medical School, the institute aims to address current and emerging health challenges across Asia and beyond.

The Duke Kunshan University Global Health Program aims to promote health equity and improve health for all in China and worldwide. Working closely with partners around the world, the Program is actively involved in conducting research, generating robust evidence, and providing policy advice.