Whitehead School Addresses Global Health  

Recent public health events and the threat of bio terrorism have posed significant challenges to domestic social-political stability, but theyhave also led to some important changes in international governance structures. A better understanding of such health challenges to governance requires novel analytical tools and focused research. The Whitehead School of Diplomacy and International Relations’ Center for Global Health Studies will seek to bridge a critical gap in the study of global health issues through two special events.

On Thursday, April 27 at 6 p.m., David Fidler, J.D. professor of law and Harry T. Ice faculty fellow at Indiana University School of Law, will deliver a keynote address titled “Architecture Amidst Anarchy: GlobalHealth’s Quest for Governance.” Fidler is one of the world’s leading experts on international law and public health and the topic of infectious diseases. The event takes place in the Diplomacy Room at McQuaid Hall, and is free and open to the public.

A conference, titled “Health and Governance: Where Are the Linkages,”follows on Friday, April 28 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Seton Hall’s SouthOrange campus. The event, which is open to global health students and invited guests, will address the linkages between health and governance; the extent of which public health challenges reflect governance problems; how societies, both within and beyond national borders, structure their responses to the challenges of infectious disease; and other issues related to the intellectual frontier ofglobal health studies.

Leading scholars to present and discuss their research include:

• Elizabeth M. Prescott,Ph.D. ,analyst and practice head, biosecurity, Eurasia Group, who will speakon “Societal Implications of Emerging Infectious Disease” with MattTurbin, Browne Center of International Politics  administrator at the University ofPennsylvania and Ph.D. candidate, as discussant;

• Bridget Welsh, Ph.D. , assistant professor, Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, who will speak on “Governance and Epidemics: Lessons from Southeast Asia,” with David Fidler, J.D. , professor of law and Harry T. Ice faculty fellow at Indiana University School of Law, asdiscussant;
  

• Eduardo J. Gomez, visiting scientist and instructor in the Politics and Governance Group of the Harvard School ofPublic Health and Ph.D. candidate, who will speak on “Protecting the Americas: The Impact of Epidemics on Domestic Institutions and Policy,”with Omer Gokcekus, Ph.D., associate professor, Whitehead School, Seton Hall University, as discussant; and
  

• Andrew Price-Smith, Ph.D. , assistant professor, Colorado College, with Robert Ostergard, Ph.D. assistant professor, State University of New York, Binghamton, as discussant.
  

“This conference is the first of its kind in Whitehead School history,” shares Reverend Paul A. Holmes, S.T.D., vice president and interimdean. “Bringing together such renowned experts in the field will help to clarify conceptual misunderstandings and point to new directions forstudy in global health.”

Yanzhong Huang, Ph.D., who serves as director of the Center for Global Health Studies, adds: “These events will not only highlight the Whitehead School’s efforts to offer innovative programs ininternational studies, but will also help boost the center’s reputationas a think tank and research center for policy-oriented global healthresearch.”