A Message From The Executive Director | | |
Dear Colleague,
The impact of cuts and new policies by the new US administration to development assistance, global health programs, academia, research, education, social programs and multilateral partnerships continue to reverberate around the world. In this newsletter you will see a detailed report by some of our members that sheds light on the impact these actions are having on people and programs around the world. Please use this document to write commentaries, blogs, to inform policymakers and the public about the terrible impact these decisions are having on vulnerable people around the world and how they affect the health and security of all Americans.
This year the US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been under steady assault, which has weakened its capacity to protect the health and safety of all Americans and people worldwide. Cuts to financing, the firing of key personnel and waves of disinformation have deeply undermined this vital organization. To set the record straight we did a podcast with Dr. Tom Frieden, the former director of the CDC where he clearly described what the US’ leading public health agency does and why it and public health are so important to everyone’s health. Our goal is to encourage people to share the podcast to counter the disinformation leveled against the CDC and its hardworking staff, and strongly encourage policymakers to invest in this organization. Please share the interview widely.
Big Events Coming Up:
Oct. 14, 1-3pm EST Register for our Free, One Health Symposium, “Addressing the Triple Environmental Crisis”, led by colleagues from UC Davis, the Planetary Health Alliance, and the Nature Conservancy.
Dec 2-4, CUGH’s Virtual Global Health Week. Workshops will be free and open to all. Stay tuned to www.cugh.org for information about the program
April 9-12 2026. Register to attend our next annual meeting in Washington, DC. Its theme is ‘The Future of Global Health’.
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Submit your panel proposals (members only), and abstracts (open to all) before the Oct 15 DEADLINE. You can register or sponsor the conference now. See www.cugh2026.org
This month, a beloved figure passed away. Dr. Jane Goodall, scientist, primatologist, humanitarian, and conservationist, was my friend who I had the privilege of knowing for over 30 years. If there is one message she always gave it was that ‘ each of us can make a difference and indeed, we must.’
As always, it is very important to share this newsletter widely and increase its impact. Thank you for doing so.
Keith
Keith Martin MD, PC Executive Director, CUGH
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Register Now for CUGH 2026, "The Future of Global Health"
We will address current and future threats to global health, sustainable development, and identify how global health can be more impactful, equitable, and effective. Information from the conference will assist CUGH in producing a report by Dec. 2026 on how Global Health can be reformed and more impactful. Please join us and contribute to this effort.
Includes 220+ speakers, 500+ abstracts, 45+ sessions, 12+ workshops, special sessions, film festival, and more!
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Submit your abstracts and panels by Oct. 15th!
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Submit a pre-conference workshop. Once the spots are full we will close submissions.
- Register, exhibit, sponsor or book a hotel room (discounted rates)
Location: The Washington Hilton Hotel
www.cugh2026.org
| Register Now for Our Upcoming Virtual Health Symposium on October 14th | Register now Join leading voices from UC Davis, The Planetary Health Alliance, The UN Environment Program, The Nature Conservancy, CUGH, and more! | Welcome our New Team Members at CUGH | |
We’re excited to welcome three talented professionals to the Consortium of Universities for Global Health:
Sarah Kellogg – Director of Operations
- Sarah brings 15+ years of global health experience, having led public health programs across Africa and Asia with organizations like JSI and ICAP. She specializes in health systems strengthening and strategic operations.
Elizabeth Hourani – Senior Program Officer
- Elizabeth is a global health leader with expertise in maternal and child health, partnerships, and multi-country program management. She’s a former Peace Corps Volunteer and Johns Hopkins alum.
Ian Evasco – Administrative Associate
- Ian is a detail-oriented operations specialist with a background in program management and process optimization across nonprofit, academic, and legal sectors.
| Leadership Interview with Dr. Tom Frieden | |
CUGH's Executive Director, Dr. Keith Martin hosts an insightful and powerful interview with Dr. Tom Frieden, former Director of the CDC and President & CEO of Resolve to Save Lives.
Dr. Frieden provides a powerful message about what the CDC does, how vital it is to the health and security of all Americans and people around the world, leadership lessons from the frontlines of global health, his mission as the founding CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, and introduces his new book, The Formula for Better Health, out now! Please share this INTERVIEW WIDELY and let’s make it go viral!
| Order your copy of The Formula for Better Health here! | Press Release: CUGH Calls for Evidence-Based Leadership at Health and Human Services | CUGH calls on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to uphold evidence-based policies that protect national and global health. The statement highlights critical risks posed by recent program cuts and urges the President to appoint leaders committed to scientific integrity and public health preparedness. | Congratulations to AFREhealth on its 8th Annual Meeting in Dakar, Senegal | CUGH's Executive Director, Dr. Keith Martin with Afrehealth's Executive Director Mrs. Georgina Yeboah at the 8th AFREhealth Conference in Dakar, Senegal. | AFREhealth's Chair, Dr. Nelson Sewankambo and Vice Chair and CUGH Board member, Dr. Elsie Kiguli -Malwadde | CUGH Working Group White Paper: Unraveling Trust: The Human Impact of Shifting U.S. Global Health Priorities | |
CUGH released a new working group white paper examining the profound global consequences of abrupt U.S. funding cuts to health initiatives, revealing disrupted services, eroded trust, and heightened epidemic risks.
It calls for renewed stability, transparency, and long-term investment in global health as both a moral obligation and a strategic imperative for U.S. national security and international leadership. Please share this widely and use it to engage policymakers and the public, and create your own op-eds or blogs.
| Read the Latest WHO Report on Hypertension | Resolve to Save Lives with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the World Health Organization, released the WHO’s new Global Hypertension Report which reveals that more than 1 billion people with hypertension lack access to basic, affordable, accessible treatment that would prevent heart attacks, strokes, and early death. | Read The Inspiring Story of One American Physician's Career in Public Service through the CDC, NIH, & Peace Corps | In this poignant narrative, Dr. Peter Kilmarx, the acting director of NIH’s Fogarty Center, recounts the early and formative part of his outstanding career working in the DRC. Drawing on his Peace Corps experience and deep ties to the region, Dr.Kilmarx illustrates the power of community-led surveillance and the critical role of trust in global health interventions. |
REVERSE DAMAGING EXECUTIVE ORDERS:
Contact Your Congressperson.
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Contact your congressional representatives in their state and district offices. Call, write, or email your concerns and offer solutions. Personal calls matter.
- Communicate the economic and human impact of these policies on individuals, communities, and institutions—both in the U.S. and globally.
-Using media platforms to raise awareness through letters to the editor, on TV and radio, and sharing informed commentaries on social media.
To Find and Contact Your Representatives:
-U.S. House of Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives
-U.S. Senate: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm
See this link to access useful resources that will help you to enhance your advocacy efforts
| | Find and Fund Defunded Global Health Grants | | The following site created by Dr. Megan Murray enables researchers to post their defunded grants and lists them online. We hope this site attracts funders to support these research efforts. | | Announcing the Lancet Global Health Commission on Anti-Corruption in Health | The newly launched Lancet Global Health Commission will take a pragmatic, evidence-informed approach—focusing on structural drivers, system incentives, and trust-building—to propose context-sensitive strategies that promote transparency, accountability, and resilient health governance. CUGH is pleased to be a part of this commission. | | Newly Launched Journal- Lancet Primary Care | | The Lancet Primary Care is a newly launched open-access journal, dedicated specifically to publishing high-quality research, commentary, and analysis on primary health care systems and services globally. Its goal is to strengthen the evidence base for primary care practice, policy, and reform, especially in the context of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and improving health equity. | | IDEA’s Resource Hub for Inclusive Development | Explore IDEA’s curated library of tools, guides, and frameworks designed to support inclusive and equitable development across sectors. From strategic planning to community engagement, these resources empower organizations to embed equity into every stage of their work. | Job Opportunities for Executive Positions- See SRI Executive | | SRI Executive, an executive search and consulting practice focused on global development works with over 300 leading development organizations across more than 70 countries over the last three decades. If you are interested in learning more see www.SRI-executive.com. | | Join the Global Health Educators Community (GHECo) | | See How the WHO Benefitted the US | | This is a superb breakdown from Health for the US. It shows by state as to how the US’ engagement with the WHO benefited America. Sadly, this has largely ended due to the US withdrawing from this institution. In this, Americans and the world are less secure as health threats know no borders. | | |
Join Our Listservs
Our listservs are open access and provide members of our network with the opportunity to share messages directly—without needing to route them through the CUGH Secretariat. We encourage thoughtful use of these listservs to maintain their value and effectiveness as a communication tool.
Becoming a listserv member is a great way to stay informed and connected with the global health community.
| | Global Health Journals & Newsletters | | |
Consortium of Universities for Global Health
202-974-6363 | info@CUGH.org | www.CUGH.org
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