Understanding the Intersection of Global and Local Health

What is global health? 

In the first module of this course, we defined global health as “an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide.” Review Global Health 101 to explore common definitions and topics in the field of global health. 

But the idea of what is global and what is local is sometimes more complicated than simple geography. The study and practice of global health can happen right in your own backyard—and what’s local for you is not local for others. Global health does not only occur in far away lands among people who look different from you—work in global health happens right here in Minnesota as well. 

While of course “global” and “local” can be rooted in geography, the terms are also personal, relational, and mental. To deepen our conceptual understanding of global health, it is important to also examine  the power, privilege, and position of the person using the term. The identity of who is using the term global and the background they bring to the field is important. We should always examine who is using the term “global health” and why they are using it.  

Finally, it is important to recognize that, what is global, regardless of location, are social forces that forcefully harm some while protecting others.

Image courtesy of CGHSR

 

What are other ways you define or understand global health? 

Before attending Mini Medical School session 2 on Monday, October 12, take five minutes to draft a brief definition of what global health means to you.

 

What do we mean when we talk about the intersection of global and local health? 

Global health and local health intersect in a number of meaningful topics and fields, such as health equity, the social determinants of health, the principles and practice of global health in a local setting, and community-based healthcare. 

Understanding how themes of global health can be used to understand local health requires an interdisciplinary approach that integrates lessons from the social sciences, such as history, politics, and culture, together with biomedical knowledge to develop biosocial understandings of illness and well-being in any place.  

Also related to this field is the theme of immigrant and refugee experiences of health, which is of particular importance in Minnesota which has the highest number of refugees per capita of any US state. 

As we progress through this module, we hope you will use a global-local health lens to begin to reflect upon your own personal experiences with health, and how power, privilege, race, class, and gender is central to experiences with health, as well as central to effective partnership building in the health professions.

 

Global Health in a Local Context Global Health in a Local Context: An experiential course on the social determinants, health equity, and leading change in Minnesota is a course offered by the Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility, immersing students in the study of health equity, the social determinants of health, the principles and practice of global health in a local setting, and community-based healthcare. This course is open to all U of M graduate and professional students and members of the Twin Cities community. More information about future offerings of the program are available online. Learn more about our Global Health in a Local Context course.