Global Health Day: "Health problems know no national borders"

Katja Radon is Head of the Center for International Health atLMU's University Hospital and LMU's Academic Chair for the European University Alliance for Global Health. In this interview, the LMU professor explains why health care needs to be thought of globally today, how her work contributes to peace in the world and what participants can expect at the second Global Health Day at LMU, to which interested students, researchers and staff are invited. (Registration deadline for participation is 12.3.2025.)

High-quality healthcare is taken for granted in industrialized countries. Why should the global view not be neglected?

Katja RadonThe global dimension of health has become crucial, as health problems such as pandemics, climate change and migration know no national borders. Sustainable solutions to these global challenges can only be found through cross-border cooperation and interdisciplinary approaches.

Issues such as mass migration, geopolitical instability and social injustice have a direct impact on people's health. They lead to supply bottlenecks, psychological stress and the spread of infectious diseases. We only need to look at the Gaza Strip or Ukraine to see this.

Finding sustainable solutions for local health problems

How is medical care organized in countries that have a different infrastructure?

In low- and middle-income countries, healthcare is often restricted by limited resources, a lack of infrastructure and a shortage of specialists. This makes access to medical services more difficult. At the Center for International Health (CIH) at LMU, we focus primarily on the education and training of specialists - from short training courses for supportive health workers such as community health workers to PhD programs and support for post-doctoral students.

What can participants expect at the second Global Health Day on April 24 and 25, 2025, at LMU?

A diverse program featuring presentations, discussions, and, above all, many exciting workshops on current topics such as migration, climate change, global justice, and innovations in global health education and research. The goal is to promote the transfer of scientific knowledge into socially relevant solutions. It is also an excellent opportunity for colleagues from all faculties who teach and research in the field of Global Health to network and get to know the work of researchers at the partner universities of the European University Alliance for Global Health (EUGLOH).

What is EUGLOH, of which you are the academic chair for LMU?

The main goals of EUGLOH are joint interdisciplinary education in the field of Global Health at nine European universities – ranging from offerings for bachelor students, certificate programs alongside core studies, joint master’s degrees, and co-supervision of PhD students to lifelong learning opportunities. The universities offer both students and lecturers the chance to exchange experiences – from a short stay in Porto in the south to Tromsø in the north, or a semester abroad in Paris in the west to Szeged in the east of Europe. In my view, the European idea is more important than ever – we need to start in schools and, at the latest, with young students, to make European exchange a part of everyday life and for them to be an integral part of it.

The CIH at LMU unites 14 institutes, clinics, and centers. What was the goal of its founding?

The CIH at the LMU Klinikum was founded in 2009 to promote international collaboration in the field of global health. By training and educating research capacities in partner countries and through interdisciplinary cooperation, the aim is to empower the partners to find sustainable solutions to local health problems.

Can you provide a concrete example?
A flagship project is the PhD program in Medical Research – International Health, which is offered as a sandwich program. In this program, candidates bring their own research topics, meaning that the topics are tailored to local needs. The candidates are only required to spend two periods of three months each at LMU, with the research periods and dissertation writing taking place in their home countries. The work is supervised by both LMU and local professors. This ensures that almost all of our candidates return to their home countries after completing their PhD, thus preventing brain drain.

What is your work beyond the PhD program?
We offer a variety of short programs, ranging from one- or two-day events like the Global Health Day to multi-month diploma programs at partner universities. These programs are offered in the local language and often target specific groups such as Community Health Workers, who ensure basic healthcare services. It is always important that the courses are evidence-based and offered with new, problem- or competence-oriented methods – whether in-person or online. A highlight of these programs was the online training on infection prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this case-based online course, we were able to reach nearly 4,000 healthcare professionals in Ecuador – from lab technicians to doctors. This project, thanks to the connections of our alumni in Latin America, was carried out in cooperation with the then Minister of Health of Ecuador, who is now a professor at one of our partner universities.

Alumni support global collaboration
Alumni play a central role in your work. How do they support the CIH?
Our alumni network strengthens global collaboration, and many of our alumni work at universities and in politics. The partner universities jointly conduct research projects, and thanks to funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), we can allocate funds for research promotion.

Can you convince politics with your scientific work?
Many of our alumni are now involved in politics in their home countries. Some at the local level, others at the national level or in global organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, we are in regular contact with staff from the BMZ (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) and can directly inform policymakers about our results.

Events like the Global Health Day promote direct dialogue between science, politics, and society to collaboratively develop sustainable and effective strategies. However, this aspect still has room for improvement – and we are working on that in the current project phase.

What topics are important to you beyond pure research?
In short: Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in teaching and further education, One Health education, promoting diversity, equality of opportunity, and inclusion, environmental and climate protection measures in projects and teaching, as well as practical training programs and close cooperation with non-academic stakeholders such as non-governmental organizations and political decision-makers.

Opportunities for students
You say your work also contributes to peace. How exactly?
Through international collaboration and, in particular, the joint education of young people from different disciplines and countries. An example of this is our certificate program in "Global Health," which offers LMU students and those from all its partner universities the opportunity to explore various aspects of Global Health alongside their main studies and work on solutions in interdisciplinary and international teams. After a kick-off event, which takes place in a hybrid format as part of the Global Health Day, students participate in various events, mostly online, over the course of a year. At the end of the program, they meet in person, if possible, to present their final projects.

Friendships are formed, and intensive work in international, interdisciplinary teams teaches what it means to embrace diversity and recognize the relevance of different perspectives for health. Not infrequently, we and our partners are invited as experts in the field. Our experience of working "on equal terms" is also valued in activities such as evaluating proposals.

How can students actively support the work of the CIH?

Students can actively contribute by participating in international research projects, internships, and interdisciplinary courses. They can join our certificate program and engage with the CIH's work to gain valuable intercultural competencies and learn to view global health issues from multiple perspectives. The Global Health Day offers students an excellent first opportunity to connect with scientists and experts from various disciplines and cultures, deepen their understanding of global challenges, and gain practical experience through workshops and discussions.

Global Health Day 2025
The second Global Health Day will take place from March 24 to 25, 2025, under the theme "From Science to Society." Registrations for participation are open until March 12, 2025.

Public Health Day 2024

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