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Members

Team

The Public Health Diplomacy Lab at the University of Memphis is led by a multidisciplinary team committed to advancing global health through collaboration, innovation, and evidence-informed diplomacy. Our team comprises experts in public health, sociology, epidemiology, and international relations, working together to address complex health challenges and promote health access across borders.

Dr. Ashish Joshi

Dean and Distinguished Professor, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, USA

Dr. Diana Ruggiero

Professor of Spanish, Department of World Languages and Literatures, University of Memphis

Dr. Beverly Tsacoyianis

Associate Professor of History, University of Memphis

Dr. Marian Levy

Associate Dean, Public Health Practice & Community Engagement, University of Memphis

Dr. Gretchen Peterson

Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Memphis

Dr. Xinhua Yu

Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of Memphis

Working Group

The Public Health Diplomacy Working Group serves as a global platform for collaboration among academic institutions, public health professionals, policymakers, and civil society organizations. Its primary aim is to advance the field of public health diplomacy by fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and developing competencies essential for addressing global health challenges.

Key Objectives

Enhance Collaboration: Facilitate partnerships among stakeholders to promote health equity and improve population health outcomes.
Capacity Building: Develop and disseminate educational resources and training programs to equip public health professionals with diplomatic skills.
Policy Development: Support the creation of evidence-based policies through research and consensus-building activities.
Global Engagement: Engage with international organizations and networks to align efforts with global health priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Through these initiatives, the Working Group aims to strengthen the integration of diplomacy in public health practice, ensuring that health considerations are central to international relations and policy decisions.

Dr. Ashish Joshi

Dean and Distinguished Professor, School of Public Health at University of Memphis, TN, USA

Dr. Laura Magaña

President and CEO, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), USA

Dr. Rodrigo Reis

Assistant Vice-Provost and Director, Office of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, MO, USA

Prof. So Yoon Kim

Professor, Yonsei University, President of APACPH, Korea Region Office, South Korea

Dr. Woldekidan Amde

Senior Researcher, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Dr. Bridget Kelly

Associate Professor, University of Wollongong, Australia

Prof. Dr. Ramune Kalediene

Head of Department of Health Management, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania

Dr. Erica Kastrup

Cooperation Advisor, Researcher at the CRIS Center for International Relations in Health of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil

Prof. Rajendra Surenthirakumaran

Professor in Community Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Catherine Kane

Technical officer, Health Workforce department, World Health Organization, Switzerland

William Yotive

Model UN Coordinator for the World Federation of United Nations Associations, USA

Dr. Tim Ken Mackey

Director of the Global Health Policy and Data Institute (GHPDi) and Professor of Global Health at UC San Diego, USA

Dr. Matthew Brown

Special Advisor, Global Health Policy and Data Institute, Adjunct Professor, Uniformed University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

International Public Health Diplomacy Advisory Group

The International Public Health Diplomacy Advisory Group supports brings together global health leaders, diplomats and policy experts dedicated to advancing the intersection of public health and international relations. The responsibility of the advisory group is to offer strategic guidance, promote cross-border collaboration and help shape the Lab’s efforts to train future health diplomats.