Letter from the Editor

Abstract

Dear Reader,

We are deeply honored to announce the publication of The Columbia University Journal of Global Health Spring 2024 Issue. In the face of global health crises spanning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Palestine as well as restrictions to free speech on our campus, we as a journal remain steadfast in our belief that the exchange of knowledge from all corners of the globe holds immense power. Our goal has always been to center diverse perspectives and communities that have been marginalized, which is especially pertinent in the present. In our Spring 2024 issue you will find four manuscripts that investigate the pitfalls and untapped potential of health systems in Latin America, Africa, or Asia to maintain the well-being of vulnerable populations and ecosystems. We hope that as you delve into the state of child malnutrition in Dhaka or Ugandan perspectives on preventing malaria during pregnancy, you are able to recognize universal themes concerning access and multi sectoral approaches for ensuring health equity globally. 

We are immensely proud of the range and depth of topics investigated by our online team, who have been able to highlight the work of global health professionals such as Professor Bill Bower, MPH, who serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, and whose interview centered on Tuberculosis and the training of lay health workers. Related to the topic of global pandemics, we published a blog post about the current state of Covid-19, which continues to shape the landscape of global health. Our online team has also served as a space for students to share their unique experiences. We have enjoyed the thoughtful perspectives of our online team members on a blog post about the modern increase in allergen reactivity, as well as a podcast that discusses what this allergen sensitivity looks like in practice, with a student interview about living with dietary restrictions in college. We hope to continue to provide spaces for our members to explore their interests and share their perspectives. 

We are immensely proud of the range and depth of topics investigated by our online team, who have been able to highlight the work of global health professionals such as Professor Bill Bower, MPH, who serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, and whose interview centered on Tuberculosis and the training of lay health workers. Related to the topic of global pandemics, we published a blog post about the current state of Covid-19, which continues to shape the landscape of global health. Our online team has also served as a space for students to share their unique experiences. We have enjoyed the thoughtful perspectives of our online team members on a blog post about the modern increase in allergen reactivity, as well as a podcast that discusses what this allergen sensitivity looks like in practice, with a student interview about living with dietary restrictions in college. We hope to continue to provide spaces for our members to explore their interests and share their perspectives. 

In a climate that has left many of our members feeling unsettled and anxious for the future, we would like to extend the utmost gratitude to our incredible team. Their fortitude and resilience has been inspiring to witness and it is not lost upon us the crucial role that each member plays in making our journal a reality. We are additionally thankful for the support of our faculty advisors, Esther Jackson, Dr. Julianna A. Bol, PhD, and Dr. Ana Navas-Acien, MD, PhD, MPH whose guidance has been invaluable. Thank you to our peer reviewers and the authors for their insightful comments and pieces, respectively. Lastly, we give a special thanks to our readers and listeners for their continuous engagement with our issues, blogs, and podcasts. You hold a special place within The Columbia University Journal of Global Health.

Sincerely,

Kairaluchi Oraedu & Ann Thanh Phan

Co-Editors-in-Chief, 

The Columbia University Journal of Global Health