Global Health as a Moral Imperative: The U.S. Role in Advancing Equity and Partnership

As a global leader with substantial resources and influence, the United States holds a moral responsibility to advance health equity worldwide. This responsibility is rooted in shared human dignity and the ethical imperative to address suffering where it exists. Contributing to the reduction of preventable disease burdens, rapid response to infectious outbreaks, strengthening maternal and child health, and confronting the health impacts of climate change and displacement are all areas where sustained engagement is essential. Meeting these challenges requires deep, sustained partnerships with governments, multilateral institutions, and communities to build more just, resilient, and healthy societies globally.

This session will examine these urgent ethical questions and the role of the U.S. in advancing equity, with time for audience Q&A. This event is free and open to the public.

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Speakers

Craig Spencer, MD
Associate Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice at the Brown University School of Public Health

Craig Spencer, MD, MPH is an emergency medicine physician and Associate Professor of the Practice at Brown University School of Public Health. With nearly two decades of experience in global health and humanitarian response, he has worked on critical public health issues across Africa, Southeast Asia, and beyond, including leading epidemiological responses during the West African Ebola outbreak and providing clinical care onboard a search-and-rescue vessel in the Mediterranean. Dr. Spencer’s work focuses on the historical foundations of public health, humanitarian response, and pandemic preparedness. He frequently shares his insights on public health and policy through writing, with pieces featured in The New England Journal of Medicine, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Politico, Los Angeles Times, Think Global Health, USA Today, and more. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the Board of Advisors for Doctors Without Borders USA.

Dr. Wesler Lambert, MD, MPH
Executive Director, Zanmi Lasante / Partners In Health Haiti

Wesler Lambert, MD is the Executive Director of Zanmi Lasante (ZL), bringing over two decades of leadership in global health and program implementation in resource-limited settings. Since joining ZL in 2002, he has advanced initiatives in HIV, TB, maternal health, primary care, and medical education, while forging strategic partnerships with government and international stakeholders. Previously, Dr. Lambert served as Deputy Executive Director, Senior Director for Education, Research, and Strategic Information, and in other senior roles where he led policy reform, organizational restructuring, crisis management, and the establishment of ZL’s Project Management Office.

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.

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.