GLOBAL HEALTH: OUR FUTURE
Pierce Gardner, MD, Stony Brook University School of Medicine
"Global health is sweeping the interest of young people. This generation knows a very different world than previous generations... Today, through globalization, technology and easier means of travel, the world is brought right before our eyes. As a result, young people see the global health and social disparities that exist, and they feel morally responsible and obliged to respond to this."
Pierce Gardner, MD, graduated medical school in 1961. 47 years later, he still cares about our future scientists.
Gardner, a leader in the health and medical research arena, is a pioneer in mobilizing and educating young scientists in global health research. After devoting most of his career to work in developing countries, Gardner is convinced today's generation of researchers will inevitably feel the same impact he did. "Once you are immersed in the third world, it stays with you. It becomes part of your marrow."
And the students he works with are proving him right. In addition to being a leader of the Global Health Education Consortium, which promotes and facilitates global health education in health and medical schools and professions, Gardner helped to start the International Clinical Research Training Program at the Fogarty International Center, part of the National Institutes of Health. This program immerses young scientists in global health research through a one-year mentored experience in an underserved country. "Such experiences powerfully influence future career choices," Gardner attests. "The great majority of students who have been in the program indicate that global health activities will be a significant part of their professional lives."
A 2004 American Association of Medical Colleges survey showed student interest in global health experiences increased by 15% from 1986 to 2001. "Global health is sweeping the interest of young people," says Gardner. "This generation knows a very different world than previous generations. When I was in medical school, jet travel was in its infancy. Today, through globalization, technology and easier means of travel, the world is brought right before our eyes. As a result, young people see the global health and social disparities that exist, and they feel morally responsible and obliged to respond to this."
Gardner also credits this interest to the heightened public awareness generated by the media, and the increasing global health dialogue and activity among government, industry and well-known public figures and entertainers. "This generation understands the burden of AIDS at home and abroad, and has watched their government respond. They are seeing Bono, Bill and Melinda Gates, and well-known actors and actresses involved in global health work. Representatives from all industries are showing that this is the right thing to do."
And education has responded - at all levels. "Growing numbers of programs, departments and centers devoted to global health activities are sprouting in universities and medical schools throughout the country, which we are working to make a mainstream activity among institutions. The growing interest among young people is extending into pre-college students - high schools are now implementing global health issues into their curriculums, and even grade schools have programs to provide bed-nets to people at risk of malaria. Global health is our future."
Gardner is concerned, however, that the current economic climate threatens our nation's support for global health research and the future generations of global health researchers. "This investment is not something you can turn on and off. Sustained support and nurturing are necessary to build successful programs. During the development phase, programs are fragile, and even temporary funding gaps are very disruptive to the progress previously made. Programs and students need time to mature. If you cut the program off at the knees, it will collapse."