New Student Association Formed to Support Global Health Initiatives and Opportunities

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The UMass Amherst Institute for Global Health (IGH) has announced the formation of the Global Health Student Association (GHSA), a student-led organization designed to create awareness of and active dialogue surrounding relevant global health topics and issues. The association will serve as a liaison between students and professionals in the field of global health.

IGH co-director Krishna Poudel, an associate professor in the department of health promotion and policy, will serve as the group’s faculty advisor. Health promotion and policy graduate students Sarah Lowe and Nora Finnerty will serve as co-presidents of the GHSA’s graduate division.

“Our organization’s mission is to increase awareness of global health issues and promote opportunities for students to work in the field of global health, and collaborate with members of the campus and larger global health community,” says Lowe. “Each semester we will host discussions with guest speakers and allow students the opportunity to engage with developing research and advancements in the field.”

“We welcome any UMass Amherst student with a passion or curiosity for global health with any level of interest or experience in the topic,” adds Finnerty.

Additional officers include GHSA undergraduate division co-presidents Neha Rahalkar (public health sciences, microbiology) and Jessica Weissman (public health sciences); GHSA treasurer Sydney Tyler (communication disorders, public health sciences); and GHSA secretary CD Lefebvre (School of Public Policy).

For questions, contact Nora Finnerty at nfinnerty@umass.edu. To sign up for more info or to get involved, join the GHSA email list.