Suzanne Maman, PhD (Associate Dean for Global Health)
Gillings strengthens global health impact through immersive hubs, alumni support, student research, and international partnerships advancing public health.
We are proud of the ways our students, faculty, staff and alumni continue to work locally and globally to advance health for all in the face of immense global health challenges.
Pivoting to Meet the Moment
We recognize the profound impact that shifting administrative priorities has had on our Gillings School alumni who work in global health. In response, we have deepened our commitment to supporting these professionals through strategic collaboration with Gillings Career Services. This partnership has enabled us to offer tailored career pivot resources with the goal of ensuring every alum feels seen, supported and equipped to navigate their next chapter with confidence.
Gillings stands beside its graduates not only during times of achievement but also in moments of challenge.
The impact of this support has been both tangible and transformative. Many alumni have successfully transitioned into new roles that align with their values and expertise, often discovering renewed purpose in areas they hadn’t previously considered. Beyond job placement, our efforts have fostered a sense of community and resilience, reinforcing the message that Gillings stands beside its graduates not only during times of achievement but also in moments of challenge. This initiative reflects our enduring commitment to public health leadership and the people who carry it forward, during good times and challenging times.
Global Hubs
Designed to establish a sustained presence in select geographic regions, the Global Hubs aim to provide high-quality, immersive learning experiences for students while enabling faculty to advance strategic public health initiatives collaboratively with in-country partners. Opportunities in Malawi, Vietnam and Zambia are made possible through a vital partnership with the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID).
In summer 2025, 7 students worked with UNC Project Malawi (3), UNC Project Vietnam (3) and UNC Global Projects Zambia (1). Since the start of the Global Hubs in 2019, the international global hubs sites have helped train 28 Gillings Master of Public Health (MPH) students.
Student Spotlight
One example of student work includes Charlotte Russo, who collaborated with oncology staff, clinicians and pathologists in Malawi to design a qualitative study protocol that will guide future research on barriers to timely cancer diagnosis. This research will lay the foundation for interventions aimed at strengthening diagnostic pathways and advancing equity in access to cancer care.
Faculty Spotlight
Professors Vivian Go, PhD, and William C. Miller, PhD, both Gillings faculty and members of IGHID, have partnered closely with Vietnam’s Ministry of Health and Hanoi Medical University (HMU) to conduct research that has directly shaped national HIV policy and public health education and recently received honorable professorships from HMU for their outstanding contributions in training, scientific research and development of international partnerships for over a decade.
Global Research Impact
We have more than 80 faculty members who have currently or previously been engaged in global research. Many of these faculty have cultivated long-standing partnerships with international collaborators and organizations. One example is the work of Nora Rosenberg, PhD, whose team developed and tested a couples-based HIV program that encourages joint counseling sessions for pregnant women living with HIV and their male partners to foster mutual support and better adherence to HIV treatment. The findings are relevant to 1.2 million women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa who become pregnant each year and their male partners.
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