Activities
Current Activities
Collaboration with Centura Health in the development of a proposal to strengthen
post-graduate medical education and HIV/AIDS management in Rwanda, at the request of the
Ministry of Health. Currently funding sources are being sought for this project.
On-going consultation with Newmont Mining Corporation regarding the possible
implementation strategies of recommendations to improve the long-term health status of
communities surrounding new mining sites. (See below description in “Past Activities”)
Discussions with the Director of Shimane University School of Medicine (near Osaka,
Japan) regarding assistance in development of a new Family Medicine postgraduate program
On-going development of a Certificate Course in Healthcare Management for use in Asia.
Past Activities
May – June 2005: Rapid Health Assessment Consultation in Ghana and Peru
Dr. Calvin Wilson (Director of the Center for Global Health) directed a consultation contract
with Newmont Mining Corporation (Denver, CO) to complete an initial rapid health assessment
of the communities surrounding proposed mining sites in Brong Ahafo, Ghana and Minas Conga, Peru.
The objective of these assessments was to gather sufficient data to propose a series of
recommendations to improve the health status of these communities in a sustainable fashion.
Two teams, each composed of six faculty members from the University of Colorado, participated in
this assessment and the development of the recommendations. The data gathered involved visits to
regional and local health authorities and health facilities, interviews with healthcare providers
at all levels, visits to each of the target communities and interviews with multiple levels of
community organizations and individuals, and a literature review of the current situation in each area.
The recommendations offered to Newmont Mining Corporation have been released to the public, and are
available by writing to the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Dept. of Public Relations,
attn: Catherine Worster (catherine.worster@uchsc.edu), or Dr. Calvin Wilson, Center for Global Health
(cal.wilson@uchsc.edu). It is anticipated that many of these
recommendations will be implemented, and that the University of Colorado will be involved in long-term
activities in these communities.
November, 2005: New Course for Students – Preparation for International Electives
A new course, IDPT 8013 entitled “Preparation for International Electives”, was developed by Dr.
Andrew Kestler and colleagues, and was offered to 4th year medical students for an intensive two weeks in
early November. This course covered many of the knowledge areas essential to medical practice in a developing
country, with an emphasis on tropical medicine and the laboratory diagnosis of diseases commonly seen in
tropical developing areas, such as malaria, intestinal parasites, and other problems.
It is anticipated that this course will be refined and offered on a yearly basis. Information on this course
can be obtained by writing to Dr. Andrew Kestler (andrew.kestler@uchsc.edu).
January 2005: International Health Travel/Study Course in China and Thailand
Dr. Blair Gifford (Associate Professor of Health Management and Director of the Center for Global Health at CU)
took 9 MBA/Health graduate students with him to Beijing, China and Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand for the
first couple weeks of January. The course was very successful. The students (and professor) learned about and
experienced a lot of new ways of providing health care, and they had a lot of fun too.
In China, the class visited the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, various markets and small businesses, and saw
Chinese opera, acrobatics and kung fu shows. They took numerous health site visits including an orphanage and
a variety of hospitals (private/international, public/municipal, traditional Chinese medicine, heart, tumor and
maternity hospitals).
The students learned that health care is almost always provided in a hospital setting in
China and that the Chinese health system just started to privatize in 2003. Thus, there is great interest in China
in learning about current health management techniques.
In Thailand, the class visited the Grand Palace, did a Klongs (urban village) river boat tour, an elephant ride
through the jungle to an ethnic hill village, and received a lecture on Buddhism at the very sacred Doi Suthep
Wat in Chiang Mai. They also learned about HIV/AIDS and reproductive health issues at the Population and Social
Development Association; were introduced to international health services at the world famous Bumrungrad Hospital;
visited the Thai Ministry of Health to learn about traditional Thai medicine; learned about efforts to offset the
damage from sex trafficking/slavery at the Sangha Mettha project and the House of Love; and, they learned how a
leper colony has turned into a community rehab facility at the McClean Rehabilitation Center.
It is likely that another health travel/study course will be offered in January 2006. For information about that
course, contact Dr. Gifford at Blair.Gifford@CUDenver.edu
December 4, 2004: Global Health Connections Finals
29 teams (150 or so middle school students) participated in the first Global Health Connections Finals at the
Auraria College Campus. The team presentations were evaluated by community-based experts on water related and
health issues, including civil engineers, public health professionals, scientists, and retired physicians. Many
of the judges were Rotarians. At the awards ceremony, ten teachers were honered along with the winning teams.
Speakers included Dr. Blair Gifford, Rotarian and Co-Director of the Center for Global Health; Diane Kessel,
District 5450 Governor; Bob Kapelke, President of Denvery Rotary; and Rotarian Grant Wilkins. A video from Denver
based Water for People was shown, followed by presentations performed by the top two teams, Campus Middle School
and Colorado Academy. For further information on Global Health Connections, contact Nan Jarvis at: (303) 556-6614
or cgh@CUDenver.edu
June, July 2004: International Health Travel/Study Course in Mongolia
Dr. Craig Janes, Professor of Health and Behavioral Sciences, led a group of ten U. of Colorado graduate students
to Mongolia for 8 weeks of study on global health issues and internship research placements with international
non-government organizations, clinical settings, and the Mongolian Ministry of Health. Partial financing for this
course was provided by the Fulbright Foundation. The course will be offered again in Summer 2005. For further
information, contact Dr. Janes at Craig.Janes@CUDenver.edu
January 2004: International Health Travel/Study Course in Thailand
Dr. Blair Gifford, Associate Professor of Health Management and Clinical Sciences, led a group of seven U. of
Colorado graduate students (public health, nursing, medicine, and health business) to Thailand for 19 days of
site visits and experiences in northern (Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai), central (Bangkok), and southern (Phuket)
Thailand in early January 2004.
January 2004: Global Health Presentations at CU
The Center for Global Health sponsored three community presentations on Global Health issues during the week
of January 13th. These presentations included:
Tuesday, January 14th: “Polio Eradication Network: Accomplishments and Challenges Ahead.” Presenters: Grant Wilkins
(Rotary International) and Roberta Smith (Center for Disease Control and Department of Public Health and
Environment, State of Colorado.
Wednesday, January 15th: “Ten Years of Health Aid Involvement in Nepal.” Presenters: Dr. Lyn (retired physician)
and Francisco (retired health administrator) Sabichi.
Thursday, January 16th: “Biotechnology Developments in Colorado: Implications for Global Health.” Presenter: Dr.
Arlen Meyers, Professor, University of Colorado Denver and Executive Director, Colorado Alliance
for Bioengineering.
December 2003: Global Health Connections Pilot Project
Rotary District 5450 (Mat Matson, Governor) and the Center for Global Health at the University of Colorado
completed a successful pilot project of the Global Health Connections (GHC) at Campus Middle School (CMS) in
Greenwood Village, Colorado on December 17th. The GHC is a competition between student groups on prepared
materials regarding a global health issue. The fall pilot project of the GHC focused on clean water and sanitation
issues. Seventeen student teams of 7th graders (5-7 per team) at CMS developed display boards and presentations
on a variety of issues including access to clean water, desertification, floods, and water-borne diseases. These
issues were considered in the context of a wide range of nations around the world.
August 2003: Globalization and Health Challenges in Latin America Travel Study Course
This course was led by Dr. Craig Janes, Health and Behavioral Sciences, U. of Colorado at Denver during the second
week of August 2003. The course was be delivered at the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica in Cuernavaca, Mexico,
and representatives from the Fulbright Foundation and the Pan American Health Organization led class discussions.
June 27, 2003: Colorado International Biotechnology Summit
The Center for Global Health and the Colorado Alliance for Bioengineering (Dr. Arlen Meyers, Executive Director)
co-sponsored the inaugural Colorado International Biotechnology Summit on June 27th. The day long event included
biotech representatives from 8 nations and 150 participants. Keynote speakers included John Hansen, the Colorado
Secretary of Technology; Dr. Josh Ruxin, Center for Global Health at Columbia University, and, Dr. Neal Pellis,
NASA International Space Station Chief of Science. Panel discussions included International Bioclusters, Developing
International Biotech Partnerships, and International Technology Transfer Issues.
October 25, 2003: Health Management Seminar in Shanghai, China
The Ministry of Health in China and Fudan University in Shanghai invited the Center for Global Health (Dr. Blair
Gifford) to present a seminar on leading health management strategies that are being used in the U.S. and other
western nations. The full day seminar took place at the U.S. Embassy and was attended by over 100 top MOH, health
administrators and other health professionals in China. Presentations included:
“New Directions in Health Strategic Management” was done by Dr. Herb Wong, CEO and President of HC Solutions of
Austin, Texas and Hong Kong, China.
“Quality Care: The Best Way to Out Perform Your Competition” was done by Joseph Swedish, CEO of Centura Health
System in Colorado.
“New Models in Chronic Care Management” by Ming Ying, National Jewish Hospital in Denver, Colorado.
October 18, 2002: Quantum Corporation CEO Rick Belluzzo Speaks at CGH Fundraiser
In October, Rick Belluzzo, current CEO of Quantum Corporation and former President of Microsoft, donated his
services to deliver the first "Industry Leaders of Colorado Breakfast at CU" about the future of the information
technology industry in the U.S. The information technology industry has been destabilized with layoffs, business
failures, and lack of clear direction in the last few years. Belluzzo argues that the industry will right itself
with more attention to customer value. IT companies need to develop a business model that preserves core product
strengths while stretching employees' talent through a well-aligned corporate culture. The talk was a fundraiser
for the Center for Global Health and was co-sponsored by the Executive Programs at CU. Belluzzo was hosted by CU
President Dr. Betsy Hoffman at other CU events and activities throughout the weekend.
June 2002: Viet Nam/Thailand Travel Study Course
Led by Dr. Blair Gifford (School of Business, UC Denver) and Dr. Dan Wessner (International Studies/History),
this course considered the impact of globalization on health care in rural and urban areas. In Thailand, the
course focused on community-based approaches to AIDS education, financing and support. In Vietnam, the course
focused on the development of a semi-private health system and access to health care issues.
