For the past 45 years, the Sparkman Center for Global Health contributes to the development of public health degree and training programs and global health research across a spectrum of diseases and public health challenges in more than 26 countries and has championed advancement in global public health education, research, and practice. While its mission has evolved, the Center remains steadfast in implementing effective global health solutions in resource-limited settings. As the world the Center operates changes, the definition of global health is changing with it.

While we confront old problems, such as infectious and vector-borne diseases, noncommunicable diseases, maternal and child health problems, and issues with universal health coverage, we simultaneously face new concerns in reproductive health and rights, climate change, and humanitarian health. The rise in hate, inequities, protectionism, misinformation, and mistrust of science have significantly impacted our ability to form solidarity and deploy evidence-based approaches like vaccines and health services to confront these problems and other emerging threats and opportunities like artificial intelligence and commercialization of global health enterprise.

In August 2023, I was named the director of the Center and quickly began to collaborate and lay the groundwork to respond to the ever-changing global health landscape. Some of this groundwork includes a new strategic focus of the Center's mission toward achieving health impact and equity at scale. The new mission prioritizes dissemination and implementation science and knowledge translation of evidence-based solutions and approaches. To better align with the new mission and to facilitate organizational efficiency and programming, the Center also reorganized its core functions to focus on global health operations, strategic engagement and communication, global public health education, and research portfolio development.

In 2023, the Center has continued to work collaboratively with UAB faculty, staff, students, alumni, and global partners which has led to the successful implementation of various programs, including Sparkman Scholars and Fellows, UAB student scholarships, Peace Corps prep., global case competitions, the Global Health Interest Group (GHIG), NIH-funded D43 global health research training, faculty pilot research, seminars, newsletter, social media, co-organizing the global health symposium, CUGH, and more.

My deepest appreciation goes to all Center staff, UAB faculty, students, staff, alumni, and global partners, without whom these activities would not be possible. I hope you enjoy reading about the 2023 activities and achievements of the Center and I am excited for the future of global health, and the opportunities the changing landscape provides us to create lasting global impact through continued innovation and collaboration.

Shared Values

Above all else, we value:

• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Celebrating diversity of societies, cultures, and individuals across the globe while promoting social justice and human rights
• Ethical Behavior and Integrity: Adhering to the highest ethical standards of integrity and transparency in our work with partners and communities to eliminate global health inequities
• Collegiality and Collaboration: Practicing respect and accountability in the workplace and modeling professional and equitable global partnerships
• Academic Excellence and Freedom: Pursuing evidence-based scholarship in all endeavors through free exploration in research, education, community engagement, and global health practice
• Global Citizenship: Contributing to efforts to enhance the ways that UAB and the broader community think and act as global citizens
• Sustainability and Environmental Protection: Promoting sustainable economic development and solutions that contribute to environmental justice and reduce negative impact on the global environment

Mission Pillars

The Sparkman Center for Global Health's mission is supported by three fundamental pillars. These are:

• Education: graduate and undergraduate global health educational programs and opportunities for UAB students, faculty, and community
• Research: support for research and scholarship conducted by UAB faculty, staff, and students in collaboration with global partners
• Global health practice and community engagement: training, empowerment, knowledge dissemination, capacity building, and workforce development in global partner countries and the UAB community

Foundations

The Sparkman Center for Global Health Mission Pillars rest on three foundations. These are:

• Collaborative Organizational Culture: Fostering respect, openness, and teamwork in an organizational culture that thrives on inclusive and equitable participation, and supports education, research, community engagement, and global health practice
• Fiscal Responsibility and Resource Development:  Practicing fiscal soundness and appropriate use of resources, as well as fostering organizational development to ensure a diverse and sustainable resource portfolio
• Interdisciplinarity: Involving and fostering networking and partnerships across all disciplines at UAB and beyond