The Yale Institute for Global Health (YIGH) brought together faculty, students, and partners from across the university on March 25 for a campus open house, signaling a renewed phase for the institute under newly-appointed leadership. Dr. Ingrid Katz, who began her role as director in January 2026, opened the event and outlined priorities for the institute’s next chapter.

Held at YIGH’s offices at 100 College Street, the event convened leaders from across Yale’s health and international communities, including deans and senior university leadership, alongside faculty and students engaged in global health work.

The gathering reflected both continuity and evolution for YIGH — a university-wide initiative established in 2017 with the support of Yale’s three health sciences schools: Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing. While rooted in this strong foundation, the institute continues to expand its partnerships across the university, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to address complex global health challenges.

At the time of its founding, university leaders emphasized that no single discipline could address complex health challenges alone, positioning YIGH as a catalyst for collaboration across Yale’s schools and with partners around the world.

A moment of transition — and opportunity

Opening the event, Katz emphasized that the institute’s next phase comes at a time of both challenge and possibility in global health. She said, “Global health is experiencing a period of transition. The challenges we face are increasingly complex and interconnected. At the same time, we have seen what is possible when people come together across disciplines, sectors, and borders.”

Katz underscored that YIGH’s future direction will be shaped through collaboration and engagement across the Yale community and with partners around the world. “At its best, global health is grounded in partnership, where the most meaningful and lasting solutions are informed by those closest to the challenges. Yale is well positioned to meet this moment,” she said.

University-wide leadership and collaboration

Vice Provost for International Affairs Sunil Amrith emphasized that YIGH serves as a central hub for aligning Yale’s expertise across disciplines with its broader international engagement. He said, “YIGH helps connect Yale’s strengths across disciplines and regions, ensuring that our work is both collaborative and responsive to shared global challenges.”

Reinforcing this institutional support, Senior Associate Provost for International Affairs, Brendan Walsh, highlighted the role of Yale’s Office of International Affairs in enabling global health work across the university. “Our role is to help faculty and partners navigate the complexities of working across borders — so that research, education, and partnerships can move forward more effectively and with greater impact,” he said.

Leaders from Yale’s health schools echoed this theme, pointing to the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing both research and real-world impact. Nancy J. Brown, dean of the Yale School of Medicine, said during remarks at the gathering, “Global health is deeply connected to the mission of the School of Medicine. Our work spans from discovery to implementation, and partnerships—both global and local—are essential to that effort. YIGH helps create these connections, and we are proud to be part of this community.”

Megan Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, also spoke at the event. She said, “At the School of Public Health, we think about the systems that shape health, and the health challenges we face today are complex and require collaboration across sectors. YIGH is so important because it brings people together to turn ideas into action, preparing the next generation to think broadly and across disciplines.” 

Also participating at the event on behalf of the Yale School of Nursing was Tatiana Sadak, Deputy Dean of Nursing. In her remarks she said “Nursing is essential to global health because our discipline connects discovery to implementation, systems to communities, and innovation to the lived realities of care. Nurses bring a deeply grounded perspective on how health challenges are experienced across settings and populations, and they play a critical role in translating ideas into meaningful, equitable impact.” She added, “Yale School of Nursing is proud to be part of this next chapter with YIGH and to contribute to interdisciplinary efforts that advance health locally and globally.”

Supporting the next generation

A central theme of the event was YIGH’s role in supporting students and trainees as they prepare to enter a rapidly evolving field. Katz said, “Students and trainees are entering the field at a moment ripe with challenge and evolution. YIGH must continue to be a place that supports their learning and prepares them to engage thoughtfully in a rapidly changing world.”

The open house provided an opportunity for attendees to connect with YIGH’s programs and staff, learn about current initiatives, and engage with colleagues working across regions and disciplines.

More broadly, the event marked a renewed emphasis on YIGH’s role as a platform for collaboration — bringing together research, education, and partnership to address evolving global health priorities.

Closing the event, Katz reminded guests that YIGH is a space to come together reinforcing the spirit that will guide the institute’s next chapter. She said, “YIGH is a space for connection and collaboration, and this community will shape what comes next. Together, we have an opportunity to build something that is responsive, inclusive, and grounded in real-world impact.”

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To learn more about the Yale Institute for Global Health, visit their website.