HS Alliance
The Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work is partnering with the Universidad de los Andes (Uniandes) School of Medicine in Colombia, the first such collaboration established in the Latin American region.
Taking advantage of Uniandes’ facilities in Bogota and Cartagena, the partnership will create collaborative spaces that will bring together professors and researchers from both institutions to develop and implement innovative initiatives in education, research and human resources. . The aim is to help improve the health and well-being of people in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“The Colombian Caribbean coast, for example, is one of the most underserved populations. This can be seen in the region’s high poverty and mortality indicators, ”said Dr Carlos Espinal, director of the Global Health Consortium at Stempel College and one of the principal investigators of the new partnership. “Through this new alliance, we hope to uncover new information on some of the most difficult public health issues affecting the most vulnerable in the region.”
The partnership also opens the door to expanding educational opportunities for students, allowing them to participate in exchange programs, university courses and science events. Key areas that institutions will focus on include cybersecurity and health, COVID-19, antimicrobial resistance, environmental health, disaster management, and more.
“In our 2021-2025 institutional strategic plan, which we recently launched, we explicitly mention that Uniandes works with partners to achieve significant and measurable impact. This of course means contributing to the creation of knowledge, but also to broader societal aspects, including sustainability, the democratic debates of our time and, in general, the construction of hopeful and inclusive narratives for the country and the community. region. This alliance with the FIU contributes precisely to this plan. Through international collaboration, we can strengthen our capacities to jointly generate a positive impact on the Latin America and Caribbean region, ”said Silvia Restrepo, Vice President of Research and Creation at Uniandes.
Uniandes is one of the best universities in Colombia, offering its students a range of academic, cultural and scientific exchange opportunities. The university was founded in 1948 and was designed as an independent institution providing education to help bridge Colombia’s knowledge gap with the scientific advancements of the world. In 2021, US News & World Report ranked Uniandes as the # 1 university in Colombia.
“This opportunity helps advance the overall vision of the FIU to be an international institution that enhances collaboration and education programs for its faculty and students,” said Tomás R. Guilarte, Dean of Stempel College. “This partnership will serve as a platform for us to help make this a reality. We look forward to seeing the great results this will bring in the years to come. We are already establishing research opportunities related to environmental pollution and health outcomes. “
“For more than a decade, we have seen time and again that when we partner with Colombian institutions, we accomplish a lot,” says Pablo Ortiz, vice president and vice president for regional and global sites. “We will build on this record of success and form more strategic alliances in Colombia in the future.”
The FIU’s 2020-2025 global strategy is based on cutting-edge research, world-class programs, innovation and 21st teaching which has made the university a leading public research institution.
In September, the FIU continued its rapid rise in the 2022 US News and Global Report rankings with a 17-point improvement to No. 78 establishments.