The Global Health & Innovation Conference embraces and nurtures diverse talents, creativity, curiosity, and collaboration. We dive deep into the complexities, impact, challenges, joys, and lessons learned in global health, innovation, education, and social impact. Join this unique forum where everyone is inspired to dive deep, to have meaningful conversations, and to embrace our collective extraordinary potential for growth and impact.

This year’s event includes hour-long keynote conversations, as well as plenary panel conversations with 4-6 thought leaders in each, and small group interactive workshops. Each session is an in-depth conversation, with no lectures, memorized talks, or PowerPoints. The sessions are not siloed based on discrete topics, but instead the conference is designed as a unique forum and exchange of ideas across disciplines.

Below is the working schedule for April 2022, which is subject to adjustments.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2022

All times are Eastern Time.

9:00-9:55am

Keynote Conversation

• “Beyond Mountains, and the Legacy of Paul Farmer,” A Conversation with Anatole Manzi, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Partners In Health, in Conversation With Jeffrey Blander, Chief Investment Officer, Innovative Financing and Sustainable Investing, U.S. Department of State; Chief Innovation Officer, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State

Jeffery Blander and Anatole Manzi discussed the impact that Paul Farmer’s work and presence have had on future work in the global health field and their lives. The two exchanged stories which emphasized how Paul Farmer changed their perspective on how to approach equity and social justice issues, as he inspired them to focus on utilizing empathy and connections to better their work in providing equal access to quality healthcare worldwide. Anatole Manzi spoke about how Paul Farmer could make the connections that enabled him to take further action with certain patients he previously believed he could no longer help. They discussed the issue of avoidable deaths and how this drove Paul Farmer’s commitment and passion for his work. They further reflected about how “stupid deaths, social justice, and global health equity” are the driving passion in their own work, as well as for many others in the global health community.

10:00-10:55am

Innovative Financing Panel

Developing and emerging market economies face the immense challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing both communicable and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), creating unprecedented stresses and exposing key gaps in fragile health systems. This engaging discussion will delve into the opportunities, sticking points, and potential solutions to leveraging private capital, and how blended financing approaches can help build more resilient and sustainable health systems. Inclusive of investments for human resources for health, last mile supply chain, innovative care delivery systems, digital health, and local manufacturing of essential medicines.

• Michelle Akande, Vice President, Global Commercial Access Partnerships, Pfizer

• Samwel Ogillo, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania (APHFTA)

• Suneeta Sharma, Vice President Health Practice, The Palladium Group

• D.C. Moore, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Griot International

• Moderated by Jeffrey Blander, Chief Investment Officer, Innovative Financing and Sustainable Investing, U.S. Department of State; Chief Innovation Officer, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State

This panel discussed innovative financing and sustainable investing to increase equitable healthcare access and accessibility to new technologies. Several successful financial experts discussed their approaches with their organizations to ensure that their investments have a beneficial result. The panelists shared in a conversation about the similarities and differences that their organizations faced due to their various locations. They reflected on how each organization engages in different innovative investments and needs to create ways to utilize the surrounding area in order to find unique sources of capital and ensure financial stability. They also found that each organization responded in different ways to the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on the percentage of insured citizens, the local government, grant offerings, and the types of accessible capital in the surrounding areas. They discussed how innovative financing helped them to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and continue to do their valuable work around the world.

Innovation Workshop

• “Bright Spots & Blind Spots: Managing Opportunities and Threats While Innovating,” Paul Ellingstad, Managing Partner, PTI Advisors

  Innovative is one of the most cherished but ubiquitous descriptors of leaders and their work.  Despite scores of methodologies, tools, and how to guides on how to innovate, innovation remains elusive and challenging for even the most creative, determined and well-resourced individuals and teams. Frequently, the pre-determined plans make concessions for experimentation, but constraints of time, financing, rigid design parameters, or even personalities and preferred options can stymie the real potential of innovation.  In this interactive workshop, we’ll take a candid look at the real life issues, experiences and examples that make innovation a hands-on, all-in endeavour, and how to handle some of the thornier challenges that aren’t normally covered in the playbooks (e.g., personalities and politics, risk aversion, the ever-present vuca dynamics.)  Capitalizing on both opportunities and threats within the dynamism of innovation can be improved through three key activities done well:  i) infusing consciousness by design—improving sensing, ii) effective, real-time contextualizing and analyzing, and iii) choosing and pursuing alternatives.  Join us for a different conversation about innovation than what you may normally have.

11:00am-11:55am

The Art of Listening Panel

Listening and collaboration are integral to all aspects of innovation and global health. How do we all become better listeners, with humility and integrity at our core?

• Jeffrey Blander, Chief Investment Officer, Innovative Financing and Sustainable Investing, U.S. Department of State; Chief Innovation Officer, Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator and Health Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State

• Cal Bruns, CEO and Chief Creative Incubationist, Matchboxology

• James Clarke, Ophthalmologist and Medical Director, Crystal Eye Clinic, Ghana; Unite For Sight Ghana Medical Director

• Laura Herman, Partner, Dalberg

• Rorisang Mhlaba, Acting School Principal, Ubuntu Pathways

• Moderated by Julie Mountcastle, Head of School and Grade 1/2 Teacher, Slate School

Bridging Research and Action Workshop

• “Bridging Research and Action,” Elizabeth Johansen, Founder, Principal Consultant, Spark Health Design

  Use human-centered design to craft a program point of view statement that enables teams to keep the need, stakeholders, and context in mind when designing an innovation. In this workshop, you will join a team focused on medical devices, professional training/education, family healthcare services, or hospital infrastructure. We will take a photographic tour of hospitals throughout Southeast Asia, and each team will develop their own point of view on the proposed challenge.

12:00-12:55pm

Building Trust

Trust is integral to all relationships and collaborations. How do we authentically develop and support trust while working with colleagues, partners, communities, patients, stakeholders, funders, and others? How can we all do better?

• Arachu Castro, Samuel Z. Stone Chair of Public Health in Latin America and Director of the Collaborative Group for Health Equity in Latin America, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

• Corrado Cancedda, Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Director, Botswana University of Pennsylvania Partnership; Strategic Advisor for Academic Partnerships, Center for Global Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

• Ziyanda Ndyoko, External Relations and Job Skills Training Manager, Ubuntu Pathways

• Seth Wanye, Founder and Ophthalmologist, Friends Eye Center, Ghana

• Mark Roithmayr, CEO, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

• Moderated by Ned Breslin

Advocacy Workshop

• “NFTs 101 for Global Health and Sustainable Development: How Advocates and Creatives Can Utilize the Space for Improved Advocacy and Fundraising,” Lisa Russell, Emmy-Winning Filmmaker and Founder, Create2030

  NFTs have a lot of hype recently, but what exactly are they? And how can they accelerate the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Join Lisa Russell, Emmy-winning filmmaker, UN arts curator and Founder of Create2030 as she introduces her ARTS ENVOY NFT Collection aimed at linking artists and storytellers with the sustainability movement. During the workshop, participants will learn about cryptocurrencies and NFTs, about various NFT collections on the market whose utilities are supporting and funding programs related to gender equality, girls education, climate change, LGBTQI rights, and more. They will also learn about solutions to the environmental concerns minting of NFTs has brought up and will get a step-by-step tutorial on how to open a new cryptowallet and purchase their first NFT.

1:00-1:55pm

Scaling Programs after Local Success

What are best practices for scaling programs? What is the process for responsibly and effectively scaling, and how do you balance an interest and need to scale with the importance of organic growth?

• Jane Aronson, Clinical Assistant Professor Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine; Founder and Former CEO, Worldwide Orphans Foundation; Director, International Pediatric Health Services, PLLC; Director, Global Behavioral Health Network for Children and Young People

• Scott Corlew, Lecturer, Program in Global Health and Social Change, Harvard Medical School

• Gene Kwan, Assistant Professor, Boston University School of Medicine; Health and Policy Advisor, Partners In Health

• Regan Marsh, Senior Technical Lead, US Public Health Accompaniment Unit, Partners In Health; Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

• Ruston Yarnko, Director of National Community Health Systems Team, Last Mile Health, Liberia

• Moderated by Robin Allinson Smalley, Co-Founder and Chief Connector, mothers2mothers International

Mentorship Workshop

• “Maximizing Mentorship: Opportunities for Professional Development,” Marie Martin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine; Associate Director for Education and Training, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH).

  This workshop serves as an introduction to current best practices in mentorship to empower individuals, foster independence among mentees, and positively influence the mentoring culture of an organization. It is intended to equip participants with a cross-cutting set of competencies focused on career guidance, professional development, and documented principles of effective mentoring. By the end of the session, participants will be able to understand the benefits and obstacles of mentorship, considering mentoring frameworks and functions of mentorship, and identify tools for effective mentorship.

2:00-2:55pm

Collaboration: The Team Sport of Success

We are all better together. Success in all sectors of health and innovation require authentic collaboration. How do you create and nurture a culture of collaboration within our teams, and with those we are working with externally?

• Sam Daley-Harris, Founder and Principal, Civic Courage, A Program of RESULTS Educational Fund

• Michelle Joseph, Instructor in Global Health and Social Medicine, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School; Chief Strategy and Health Equity Officer, Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School

• Julie Mountcastle, Head of School and Grade 1/2 Teacher, Slate School

• Wendy Ostroff, Associate Professor of Cognitive Science and Developmental Psychology, Hutchins School of Liberal Studies, Sonoma State University

• Moderated by Brian Heuser, Associate Professor of the Practice of International Education Policy, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University; Affiliated Faculty, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health

Nonprofit Leadership Workshop

• “The Art and Science of Nonprofit Leadership,” Mark Roithmayr, CEO, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

  In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about the six styles of leadership as documented by the Harvard Business Review. Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of the styles (Coercive, Authoritative, Affiliative, Democratic, Pacesetting and Coaching) as well as best circumstances to use and not to use each style. Additionally, the workshop will discuss the Four Principles of Nonprofit Leadership (Vision, Constituencies, Individuals and Implementation) and how each distinctly relates to their own jobs, careers, and the sector as a whole.

3:00-3:55pm

Vulnerability, Failure, and Resiliency in Leadership

In order to succeed, we must all trust in being vulnerable, taking risks, and sometimes failing. How do we balance these core principles in our programs and organizations?

• Boris Bulayev, CEO and Co-Founder, Educate!

• Katja Iversen, Executive Advisor, Author, and Advocate for Purpose Driven Leadership.

• Bobby Jefferson, Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, DAI Global Health

• Santa Ono, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia

• Tim Peck, Executive Portfolio Director of Health, IDEO New York

• Chris Underhill, Founder, BasicNeeds; Co-Founder, citiesRISE; Co-Founder, Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs; Member, Global Future Council on Mental Health, World Economic Forum; Founder and Principal, Mentor Services

• Moderated by Marie Martin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine; Associate Director for Education and Training, Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH)

Bringing Innovations to Scale Workshop

• “Going from Good to Great: Bringing Innovations to National Scale,” Laura Stachel, Co-Founder and Executive Director, We Care Solar

  How does a nonprofit organization bring innovation to scale? We Care Solar, an NPO working at the nexus of maternal health care and energy access, has delivered thousands of Solar Suitcases to maternal health facilities in Africa and beyond. We Care Solar team leaders will share key questions they addressed during their own scaling journey, and review how the organization evolved from conducting user-centered field testing and ad hoc programming to launching their international Light Every Birth initiative. Participants are invited to bring their own scaling challenges for this interactive session.

4:00-4:55pm

Diving Deep into Ethics, Illusions, and Integrity

Scientific and program integrity are essential in health, development, and innovation. From scientific integrity to the preservation of objectivity and impartiality, we will delve into the central tenets of ethics and integrity, and avoiding an illusion of success or impartiality.

• Ned Breslin

• Jon Jureidini, Research Leader, Critical and Ethical Mental Health (CEMH), School of Medicine Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide

• Charles Wiysonge, Cochrane South Africa

• Moderated by Jennifer Staple-Clark, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Unite For Sight

FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022

All times are Eastern Time.

9:00-9:55am

Interactive Forum for Collaborative Conversations

Join other conference participants in a special breakout room for an interactive, collaborative conversation about innovation and global health. Meet others, discuss yesterday’s sessions, and dive deep.

10:00-10:55am

Being Bold, Having Vision

Vision is a key part of developing programs or organizations. Innovation comes with being bold. and thinking outside of the box. What are key lessons learned in being bold and having vision?

• Chris Addy, Partner, The Bridgespan Group

• Charlotte Cole, Executive Director, Blue Butterfly Collaborative

• Gary Oppenheimer, Founder and Executive Director, AmpleHarvest.org

• Linda Reinstein, President and Cofounder, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

• Lisa Russell, Emmy-Winning Filmmaker and Founder, Create2030

• Alexandra Scott, President, Global Environment & Technology Foundation, and Director of Program Delivery, Project Last Mile

• Moderated by Julie Mountcastle, Head of School and Grade 1/2 Teacher, Slate School

Exhibitor Americares

• Interact with Exhibitor Americares

11:00am-11:55am

Organizational Journeys

Every organization has its own journey. What can we learn from each organization’s journey?

• Firdaus Kharas, Chairman, Chocolate Moose Media and Culture Shift

• Emma Robbins, Executive Director, Navajo Water Project; Founder, The Chapter House

• Ash Rogers, Co-CEO, Lwala Community Alliance

• Adam Schwartz, Director, Health Program at BRAC USA

• Moderated by Mark Roithmayr, CEO, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation

Transparency Workshop

• “What do we Really Mean by Transparency?” Ned Breslin

  Transparency is a commonly used, but often misunderstood term. This workshop will ask how you use transparency in your organization, what it means, where the lines are on transparency, and some of the challenges you have faced and strategies used to create a more transparent organization.

12:00pm-12:55pm

Fulfillment in Global Health Careers

Global health organizations bring together talented and expert people from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests. Within this complex field, what helps to ensure that our careers continue to feel fulfilling? How do we learn and grow from challenges?

• Adeline Boatin, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health, Harvard Medical School; Co-Director of Global Health, Dept OB/GYN, Mass General Hospital

• Kevin Frick, Professor, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School

• Siobhan Kelley, Director of Communications, Last Mile Health

• Kaveh Khoshnood, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health; Faculty Director, InnovateHealth Yale; Program Co-Director, Global Health Ethics Program, Yale Institute for Global Health; Program Director BA-BS/MPH Program in Public Health, Yale University

• Eliza Squibb, Lecturer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Moderated by Rebecca Hardin, Associate Professor, and Faculty Director for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability

Interact with Exhibitor SIT

• Interact with Exhibitor SIT

1:00-1:55pm

Rigorous Thinking, Informed Decisions, and Real Outcomes

The fields of global health, development, and innovation are too often filled with low-quality data collection, outputs, and other metrics which do not reflect real outcomes. How can rigorous thinking, informed decisions, and real outcomes be integrated into the processes of any program or organization? This is a delve into authentic monitoring and evaluation that should be incorporated into any program.

• Bethany Hedt-Gauthier, Assistant Professor, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School

• Lisa Hirschhorn, Professor, Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University; Senior Director, Implementation and Improvement Science, Last Mile Health

• Krishna Jafa, CEO, Medic

• Kala Mehta, Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco

• Daniel Palazuelos, Director of Community Health Systems, Partners In Health; Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

• Moderated by Katherine Semrau, Director, BetterBirth Program, Ariadne Labs; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate Epidemiologist, Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Advocacy Workshop

• “Visualizing Information for Advocacy,” Natacha Poggio, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, University of Houston Downtown; Founder and Director, Design Global Change

  This hands-on workshop offers attendees an introduction to how to influence issues using the right combination of information design, covering storytelling, visual design, and communication strategies to consider when developing campaigns for advocacy. Examples of data visualizations tools for information campaigns will be shared with participants.

2:00-2:55pm

Innovating with Responsibility and Integrity

• David Aylward, Senior Advisor, Eugene S. Farley Jr. Health Policy Center; Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado

• Ana R. Mallari, CEO and Co-Founder, QuestBridge

• Daniel Palazuelos, Director of Community Health Systems, Partners In Health; Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School

• Daniel Student, Senior Consultant, Potrero Group

• Moderated by Rachel Turkel, Volunteer Experience Coach, Crisis Text Line

Interact with Exhibitor St. Catherine University

• Interact with Exhibitor St. Catherine University

3:00-3:55pm

Lessons Learned in Virtual Collaboration

Our work has significantly transformed during the past two years. What are best practices and lessons learned about effective virtual collaboration? Virtual collaboration will never replace in-person collaboration and coordination, but how can the virtual work best augment what we already do?

• Priyanka Bhasin, Head of Corporate Engagement, Acumen

• Tricia Bolender, Strategy Consultant and Leadership Coach, Tricia Bolender Advisory LLC

• Cleveland Justis, Principal, Potrero Group; Director, UC Davis Executive Leadership Program

• Natacha Poggio, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, University of Houston Downtown; Founder and Director, Design Global Change

• Samantha Parsons, Chief Operating Officer, We Care Solar

• Moderated by Paul Ellingstad, Managing Partner, PTI Advisors