Global Health and Health Equity
Global Health at the Faculty of Medicine
Global health is an approach to improving health and achieving greater equity in health for all people worldwide. It recognizes that health is shaped not only by biology and clinical care, but also by social, economic, environmental, political, and structural factors that cross communities, regions, and national borders.
At the Faculty of Medicine, we recognize that global health is not limited to international work or overseas experiences. Global health principles are relevant to local practice, community engagement, health systems, Indigenous health, rural and remote medicine, population health, and the social determinants of health.
We are committed to preparing learners to understand the complex factors that shape health and health inequities, and to practice in ways that are socially responsive, equity-informed, collaborative, and grounded in respect for communities.
Global Health Principles
Our approach to global health is informed by principles of:
- Health equity and social justice
- Social accountability and community responsiveness
- Ethical and reciprocal partnerships
- Cultural humility and lifelong learning
- Respect for diverse knowledge systems and lived experiences
- Sustainability and responsible engagement
- Reflection on power, privilege, and structural inequities
These principles help guide how we approach learning, partnerships, research, and engagement activities.
Global Health, Social Accountability, and Health Equity
Global health and social accountability are closely connected.
Social accountability calls on medical schools to respond to the priority health concerns of the communities they serve through education, research, service, and partnership. Global health complements this responsibility by encouraging learners and institutions to understand how broader social, structural, environmental, and global forces influence health and access to care.
This includes attention to the social determinants of health, health inequities, structural barriers, and the ways local and global health challenges are interconnected.
At the Faculty of Medicine, global health supports our broader commitment to equity-oriented medical education and socially responsive practice.
Areas of Engagement
The Faculty of Medicine supports and collaborates on a range of global health and health equity-related activities, which may include:
- Learner education and experiential opportunities
- Global and local community partnerships
- Health equity and social accountability initiatives
- Interdisciplinary collaboration and scholarship
- Research and knowledge exchange
- Global health seminars, workshops, and learning activities