Global Health Matters

Global Health Matters is the monthly podcast from TDR, please subscribe. GHMs brings you topical subjects and insightful discussions with health experts from across the globe, including a focus on low-to middle-income countries. Are you a professional looking to progress further or perhaps a global health student at the early stage of your career? There are so many routes to get into a career in global health, so this podcast episode discussion is with two career professionals sharing their knowledge of how they chose their path and giving clear guidance on ways to get the support needed to increase opportunities to make a difference in the ever pressing global health challenges. Global Health Matters host Garry Aslanyan speaks with the following guests: Stephanie Topp:Renzo GuintoStephanie Topp looks at how global health can support the next generation of thinkers and leaders, and suggests that networked capacity building and an emerging voices model is a critical example. Renzo Guinto wants to listen to different voices and challenge power structures to address the inequities that global health is trying to address. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

In partnership with the World Health Summit for an episode recorded live at this year’s meeting in Berlin, host Garry Aslanyan sat down with Monica Bharel, Clinical Lead of Public Sector at Google, and Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the Africa Leaders Malaria Alliance. Global health knowledge sharing is rapidly evolving due to advances in technologies, increased data availability, stronger community engagement and the rise of voices beyond traditional institutions. Joy and Monica shared insights into building a more inclusive global health knowledge ecosystem—one that ensures communities everywhere can benefit from credible information, contribute their perspectives and take informed action. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

"Trailblazers with Garry" is a new series from Global Health Matters, where host Dr Garry Aslanyan sits down with trailblazers — thinkers, leaders, and influencers shaping the future of global health — for short face-to-face conversations, available in both audio and video formats. It’s a chance to get to know the people behind the work and hear their perspectives on the current global health landscape. In this Trailblazers episode, host Garry Aslanyan sits down with Lena Nanushyan, First Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia to speak about her work to strengthen tobacco control, a commitment that earned her a World No Tobacco Day Award from WHO in 2025. She also discusses Armenia's efforts to reduce high out-of-pocket health payments and how the country is moving closer toward universal health coverage. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

This episode launches Season 5 of Global Health Matters, which will explore the future of global health. In a time of turbulence, transition and transformation, we need diverse voices to help shape what comes next. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with two thought leaders: Paola Abril Campos Rivera, Research Professor of health policy at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, and Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director of the African Population and Health Research Center in Kenya. Together, they explore how global health is being reshaped amid shifting geopolitics, declining aid and the rapid rise of new technologies. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

From climate change and conflict to economic instability, today’s converging global crises are reshaping the landscape of child health. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with two leading voices in global health: Landry Tsague, Director of the Center for Primary Health Care at Africa CDC, and Debra Jackson, Takeda Chair in Global Child Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. They share insights on what should be done to strengthen health systems, empower communities and create conditions where children not only survive, but thrive amid the turbulence of the metacrisis. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

"Trailblazers with Garry" is a new series from Global Health Matters, where host Dr Garry Aslanyan sits down with trailblazers — thinkers, leaders, and influencers shaping the future of global health — for short face-to-face conversations, available in both audio and video formats. It’s a chance to get to know the people behind the work and hear their perspectives on the current global health landscape. In this Trailblazers episode, Garry sits down with Adalsteinn (Steini) Brown, Dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, to talk about the future of public health education, learning health systems and the core competencies tomorrow’s leaders will need to make an impact on public health. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

In 2021, the World Health Organization made a historic recommendation: to widely use the first ever malaria vaccine, RTS,S. This recommendation was based on evidence generated from a pilot vaccine implementation programme in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi that has reached more than 800 000 children since 2019. This is an excellent example of how evidence based on implementation research tells us whether health interventions, such as vaccines, will be effective in real life, after clinical trials show its efficacy and safety. In this episode, Margaret Gyapong of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ghana shares her first-hand experiences and learnings from the malaria vaccine pilot. Lee Hampton of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, also tells us how implementation research has played a key role in the success of health programmes for diseases such as yellow fever, typhoid and more. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with the following guests: Margaret Gyapong: Director, Institute for Health Research at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana Lee Hampton: Vaccine preventable disease surveillance and vaccine safety focal point at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Switzerland Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. The CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO creative commons licence allows users to freely copy, reproduce, reprint, distribute, translate and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided TDR is acknowledged as the source and adapted material is issued under the same licensing terms using the following suggested citation: Global Health Matters. Geneva: TDR; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

What are the colonial legacies in global health? And what impact have they had on how some health and health research programmes are run in Africa? In this episode, we speak to two visionary women leaders who tell us what’s wrong in global health and give concrete steps toward more equitable and inclusive partnerships. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with the following guests: Catherine KyobutungiAgnes BinagwahoDisclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBlueskyDisclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. The CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO creative commons licence allows users to freely copy, reproduce, reprint, distribute, translate and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided TDR is acknowledged as the source and adapted material is issued under the same licensing terms using the following suggested citation: Global Health Matters. Geneva: TDR; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

Substance use is a global public health challenge, affecting Northern and Southern countries alike. Yet strategies for managing it have varied widely. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Kwame McKenzie, a practicing psychiatrist and CEO of the Wellesley Institute. He's also Director of Health Equity at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Canada. Together they unpack how language shapes policy, explore the impact of the pandemic on substance use and discuss lessons from different national approaches to addressing this complex issue. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

This episode features three renowned communicators of science who work to inform, educate and inspire the public about health issues. Microbiologist Natalia Pasternak has become one of the leading communicators of science in Brazil and internationally. As founder of Instituto Questão de Ciência, she offers advice on how others can set up science communication institutes in their countries. Imogen Foulkes reflects upon how scientists can better communicate their research to the public, given her experience as a journalist with the BBC News and SWI swissinfo.ch based in Geneva. And Sonia Lowman of International Medical Corps highlights the power of film to connect audiences to global health issues and create a vision for the way forward. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with the following guests: Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. The CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO creative commons licence allows users to freely copy, reproduce, reprint, distribute, translate and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided TDR is acknowledged as the source and adapted material is issued under the same licensing terms using the following suggested citation: Global Health Matters. Geneva: TDR; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

In this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Joanne Liu, a Canadian pediatric emergency doctor and former International President of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). She is currently a professor at McGill University School of Population and Global Health, where she leads research on pandemic preparedness and emergency response. In this conversation, she speaks about her new book, "Ebola, Bombs, and Migrants." It's a powerful reflection on her leadership journey, and what it really means to demonstrate global solidarity for those most vulnerable. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters.

GHM Listener Reactions - Share your thoughts about this episode? [These text messages use your mobile phone and are private, and FREE.] "Trailblazers with Garry" is a new series from Global Health Matters, where host Garry Aslanyan sits down with trailblazers — thinkers, leaders, and influencers shaping the future of global health — for short face-to-face conversations, available in both audio and video formats. It’s a chance to get to know the people behind the work and hear their perspectives on the current global health landscape. Step inside the Wellcome Trust in London with our next trailblazer, the newly appointed CEO John-Arne Røttingen — former head of CEPI and Norway’s Ambassador for Global Health — traces his leadership journey and vision for the foundation. He explains why bolder citizen-scientist partnerships are crucial to navigating the global-health funding crunch ahead. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.

GHM Listener Reactions - Share your thoughts about this episode? [These text messages use your mobile phone and are private, and FREE.] Whether you watched "2001: A Space Odyssey" movie or have recently experimented with ChatGPT, it's impossible to ignore the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in our daily lives. AI is often praised for its potential to transform healthcare. Yet how it will truly revolutionize the field remains unclear. In this episode, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with two experts at the forefront of AI's integration into national health systems. Alexandre Chiavegatto Filho, Professor of machine learning in health at the University of São Paolo, has been leading efforts to develop AI models tailored to Brazil's unique healthcare landscape. Jiho Cha, member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and Chairperson of the AI Future Strategy Special Committee, brings insights into the policy and strategy shaping AI's role in healthcare. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.

GHM Listener Reactions - Share your thoughts about this episode? [These text messages use your mobile phone and are private, and FREE.] In this episode of Dialogues, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Chikwe Ihekweazu, Assistant Director General at the World Health Organization (WHO) and acting Regional Director for WHO Regional Office for Africa and his wife, Vivianne Ihekweazu, from Nigeria Health Watch. The conversation centers the their latest book, An Imperfect Storm: A Pandemic and the Coming of Age of a Nigerian Institution. Chikwe discuses his personal journey in establishing the Nigerian Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic in Nigeria as well as how they as a couple balance personal life with demanding work during challenging times. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.

GHM Listener Reactions - Share your thoughts about this episode? [These text messages use your mobile phone and are private, and FREE.] From a global challenge to the Maasai steppe of Tanzania Most climate change predictions show an upward trend in temperature for at least the next nine decades. Rural communities whose health and livelihoods depend on the environment are more vulnerable to climate change. In recent years, persistent droughts have made Maasai communities in northern Tanzania vulnerable to sleeping sickness, a disease spread by the tsetse fly. Paul Gwakisa of Sokoine University has dedicated his research to helping the Maasai people better understand and prevent outbreaks of sleeping sickness in their communities. Pierre Quiblier of the UN Environment Programme also speaks about global efforts to better tackle climate change through an integrated “One Health” approach that brings together sectors such as agriculture, health and the environment. Host Garry Aslanyan is joined by the following guests: Paul Gwakisa, Professor of Immunology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania Pierre Quiblier Programme Officer, Chemicals and Health Branch, United Nations Environment Programme Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow us for updates: XLinkedInInstagramBluesky Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2025 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.

GHM Listener Reactions - Share your thoughts about this episode? [These text messages use your mobile phone and are private, and FREE.] "Trailblazers with Garry" is a new series from Global Health Matters, where host Garry Aslanyan sits down with trailblazers — thinkers, leaders, and influencers shaping the future of global health — for short face-to-face conversations, available in both audio and video formats. It’s a chance to get to know the people behind the work and hear their perspectives on the current global health landscape. Our first trailblazer is Tulio de Oliviera, Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Tulio was recognized by Time magazine in 2024 as one of the 100 most influential people in global health. He led the research group that confirmed the Beta and Omicron variants of COVID-19 and led the early trials in testing COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in South Africa. Garry sat down with Tulio in his lab to hear about his experience behind the discoveries and also to discuss the progress made in pandemic preparedness. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow @TDRnews on Twitter, TDR on LinkedIn and @ghm_podcast on Instagram for updates. Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2024 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.

GHM Listener Reactions - Share your thoughts about this episode? [These text messages use your mobile phone and are private, and FREE.] With so many pressing global health challenges and limited resources, what determines whether an issue makes it onto the global health agenda? What factors shape its priority status? In this episode, using oral health as a case example, we take a closer look at the framing of global health issues. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Habib Benzian, a dentist, professor of epidemiology and health promotion at New York University and Co-Director of the WHO Collaborative Center on Oral Health. Bulela Vava is a dentist and President of the Public Oral Health Forum in South Africa. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow @TDRnews on Twitter, TDR on LinkedIn and @ghm_podcast on Instagram for updates. Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2024 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.

"FAN MAIL - How does this episode resonate with you?" In this episode, we turn the lens on ourselves as the global health community. Host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Hani Kim and Seye Abimbola about how elite global health actors can marginalize local perspectives and knowledge. They stress the importance of localizing efforts and acknowledging implicit biases to address the structural inequalities that perpetuate health disparities. Seye Abimbola is Associate Professor at the University of Sydney School of Public Health and inaugural editor-in-chief of BMJ Global Health, and Hani Kim is Executive Director of the Research Investment for Global Health Technology (RIGHT) Foundation in South Korea. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow @TDRnews on Twitter, TDR on LinkedIn and @ghm_podcast on Instagram for updates. Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2024 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.

"FAN MAIL - How does this episode resonate with you?" This two-part episode shines a light on the lived experiences of two remarkable individuals affected by NTDs. We explore firsthand how disability influences and affects their lives. In part 2, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Dan Izzett, a former civil engineering technician and pastor who has turned his retirement into a powerful mission advocating for people living with leprosy. Peter Waddup, the CEO of the Leprosy Mission in Great Britain, provides a thoughtful reflection on Dan's message and its practical implications for the global health community. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow @TDRnews on Twitter, TDR on LinkedIn and @ghm_podcast on Instagram for updates. Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2024 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.

"FAN MAIL - How does this episode resonate with you?" This two-part episode shines a light on the lived experiences of two remarkable individuals affected by NTDs. We explore firsthand how disability influences and affects their lives. In part 1, host Garry Aslanyan speaks with Mulikat Okanlawon, a survivor of noma in Nigeria and President of the Elysium Noma Survivors Association. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Mulikat and other survivors, noma was officially recognized as an NTD by the World Health Organization in 2023. Claire Jeantet, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, speaks about collaborating with Mulikat over the past eight years to bring her story and the stories of other noma survivors to policymakers, academics and the public. Related episode documents, transcripts and other information can be found on our website. Subscribe to the Global Health Matters podcast newsletter. Follow @TDRnews on Twitter, TDR on LinkedIn and @ghm_podcast on Instagram for updates. Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Global Health Matters podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of TDR or the World Health Organization. All content © 2024 Global Health Matters. Pre-roll content; We're in the full swing of our season four. If you just found us, we have close to 40 episodes for you to explore. You don't need to listen to them in sequence. You can look them up and choose a la carte topics and issues that most interest you. I promise you will want to hear them all.