USC hosts APRU’s 14th annual Global Health Conference

The 14th annual Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Global Health Conference was held Oct. 19-21, bringing together health leaders, researchers, policymakers and students. 

Organized by USC, Fudan University in Shanghai, and the APRU Secretariat, more than 2,700 participants from around the world attended event. Margaret Chan, former Director-General of the World Health Organization, was the keynote speaker. Panels were held on the lifecourse, universal health care, migration, aging, and women’s health.

“With the ongoing pandemic, global health is in the spotlight more than ever,” said Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS, associate professor of preventive medicine, who is Director of the APRU Global Health Program, based at USC. The Secretariat is based in Hong Kong. 

“COVID-19 has highlighted the vast inequities in our societies that increase vulnerability to negative health outcomes among some populations,” she added. “The 14^th annual APRU Global Health Conference convened 33 expert speakers from around the world on topics such as aging, migration, women’s health, and COVID-19. The conference underscored the importance of working together to achieve universal health coverage — for all global citizens.

“I am really pleased that even in these turbulent and divisive times, we could bring together over 2,700 participants from 53 countries to learn from each other. And the fact that so many students participated gives me hope that collectively we will be able to solve the challenges that face us ahead.”