Global Health Institutions and U.S. Membership

Join us for a compelling session where we unpack the roles and operations of key multilateral organizations like the WHO, Gavi, CEPI, and agreements such as the Paris Agreement and pandemic accord negotiations, and how they work to address global health and security challenges. This event will explore how these entities function, the dynamics of global collaborations during crises, and the considerable influence of U.S. policies on their effectiveness. We will also examine the impact of U.S. participation and withdrawal from such agreements, referencing recent historical shifts, and discuss the legal and practical timelines for these changes. Engage with experts to gain insights into the future of international cooperation and the strategic role of the U.S. in fostering global stability.

This event is free and open to the public. 

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About the Speakers

Dr. Stephanie Psaki, Ph.D.
Distinguished Senior Fellow, Brown School of Public Health

Dr. Stephanie Psaki is a public health leader with expertise at the intersection of national security, global health, and equity. Psaki has held leadership positions across government, NGOs, and research institutions. She previously served as special assistant to the president and the inaugural U.S. coordinator for global health security at the White House, a role that included overseeing the federal government’s response to emerging global health threats such as mpox, Ebola and Marburg. While on staff at the National Security Council, Psaki also coordinated U.S. Government engagement on issues ranging from ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat, investing in health workers, expanding access to sexual and reproductive health services and protecting human rights. She previously worked for 20 years at NGOs and research institutions, including Partners in Health, FHI 360, and the Population Council, where she led a research center focused on expanding opportunities for young people around the world. Psaki holds a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and an M.S. from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Dr. Tom Frieden, MD, MPH
President and Chief Executive Officer, Resolve to Save Lives

President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, Dr. Tom Frieden is a physician trained in internal medicine, infectious diseases, public health, and epidemiology. He is former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and former commissioner of the New York City Health Department. He also helped start Mike Bloomberg’s global health philanthropy, particularly the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, which has helped countries implement measures that will prevent more than 35 million deaths. As Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Frieden oversaw the work that helped end the 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic. Dr. Frieden founded Resolve to Save Lives in 2017 and leads the organization’s efforts to partner with countries to prevent 100 million deaths from cardiovascular disease and to make the world safer from epidemics. In the organization’s first 7 years, these efforts prevented nearly 8 million deaths.

About the Global Health Coffee Sessions

The Global Health Coffee Sessions virtual series pivots with a new lineup of timely conversations at the intersection of health, policy, and global cooperation. Held on the last Friday of each month from 9:00–10:00 AM ET, this series brings together global health experts, policymakers, and practitioners from Harvard and beyond for dynamic, forward-looking discussions.

This spring, we’ll explore how the U.S. engages with global health institutions, what its budget priorities say about its global health commitments, and how misinformation is reshaping public understanding. The series will continue with new topics and speakers throughout the year.

From multilateral health governance to budget breakdowns and media literacy, each session aims to spark thoughtful conversation, highlight real-world challenges, and offer actionable insights into the future of global health.

All sessions are hosted virtually via Zoom, recorded, and available afterward on our YouTube Channel.

The Harvard Global Health Institute provides a platform for different perspectives and debates within the field of global health through a variety of media. The views expressed in these events and programs are solely those of the speakers, authors, researchers, and participating audience. As such, they do not speak for the institute or the university.