"Why study global health?"

Many of you are thinking this while others are thinking, "Why do you have to go to Peru to study cardiovascular disease?" or "Why are you doing research if you are going to be a doctor?" Many have thought it but few were bold enough to ask and I respect that. So today I had to answer those questions as I was selected to be interviewed by an organization who was making a PR video for the Fogarty International Center. This is what I said:

I think global health research is important for many reasons, including humanitarian, understanding domestic diseases, and globalization. As we get better at treating infectious diseases people live longer and develop chronic diseases. Specifically, major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as age, smoking, family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, are increasing in prevalence leading to cardiovascular disease becoming the leading cause of death in Latin America. Most risk factors (except advancing age, family history and ethnicity) may be modified using various interventions and treatments.

The prevalence of diabetes mirrors the increased prevalence of obesity in the US. Genetics and environmental factors play a significant role in the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease but defining these in developing countries is important. However, as with most governments, policy leader need to see the facts and data that this is actually a problem in their area or country in order to make create change.


Graph from PRB.

Fact: $1 of every $3 Medicare dollars is spent on diabetes in the US yet chronic disease attracts only 5% of the entire World Health Organization budget. In the US, global health research has seen a large grassroots movement that started with idealistic students and health care professionals. My goal is to do good scientific research this year to advance our understanding of cardiovascular disease in Peru, help raise awareness on an individual level, and generalize the results to populations in other areas. The rest I'll leave up to the politicians.
The burden of chronic disease is shifting to developing countries that do not have the resources, primary care medical infrastructure and awareness of policy makers and individuals to effectively manage this problem. Therefore, I feel that it is our duty as global citizens to help reduce the burden of poverty and inequalities in health. Join the ProCor mailing list to get updates: >. Also an interesting site of WHO statistics.

Quotes of the week:
"It's a bold new move to completely embrace that chronic diseases are and will be the biggest burden in the developing countries." Dr. Cristina Rabadan-Diehl, director National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

"It pays to listen to the people suffering from the disease." Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
"Humanitarian reasons are like relationships, you know, they come and go, you can always find another one." Dr. Anthony Fauci explaining why we need global health research.

"The more tools you have in the toolbox, the better prepared and useful you'll be." Dr. Steven Reynolds, MPH, who works on HIV in Uganda

"In battle no plan remains in tact." Dr. Pierce Gardner emphasizing how important it is to be flexible this year with regards to our projects.

"Luck comes to the prepared mind." Dr. Larry Laughlin and old friend of my mentor, Dr. David Williams.