On September 14, 2026, the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI) formally established its new administrative home at the University of California, Irvine's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. This move positions UC Irvine at the center of the institute's efforts to address growing health disparities, climate-related health threats, and critical workforce shortages through systemwide collaboration.
UCGHI, founded in 2008, serves as the University of California's central hub for global health initiatives. Under the leadership of founding director emeritus Dr. Haile Debas, and more recently Dr. Madhavi Dandu, a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco who has led the institute since 2022, UCGHI has fostered a shared commitment to advancing health equity and improving lives worldwide. It also aims to cultivate the next generation of global health leaders across all ten UC campuses.
The relocation reinforces UC Irvine's growing international leadership in public health. The university expects the transition to strengthen research, education, and strategic partnerships that benefit communities in California and globally. Bernadette Boden-Albala, founding dean of Wen Public Health and a UCGHI Advisory Council member since 2021, noted that UCGHI "embodies the very best of the UC system: collaboration across disciplines, campuses and communities in pursuit of solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.” She added that the Global Health Institute will enhance the ability to convene diverse teams, foster innovation, and develop solutions that "improve health for communities both locally and globally.”
Recognized nationally for its model of cross-campus collaboration, UCGHI oversees several multidisciplinary systemwide centers and programs. These include the Center for Planetary Health, the Center for Gender and Health Justice, and the Center for Health Workforce. The institute also manages the GloCal Health Fellowship, which provides interdisciplinary education and training for aspiring global health researchers focused on improving global population health.
UCGHI has also developed an extensive educational pathway, offering opportunities for learners from high school through graduate and professional studies to gain knowledge and experience in global health and explore career development. Dr. Dandu commented that UCGHI originated from the insight that "no single institution can solve today’s complex health challenges alone.” She expressed excitement for opportunities to expand impact and strengthen collaborations from its new base in Irvine.
UC Irvine faculty have been integral to UCGHI's work for years. Oladele Ogunseitan, a Distinguished Professor and director of the UCGHI Global Health Education Program, has advanced environmental health, sustainability, and planetary health initiatives across the UC system. Sean Arayasirikul, an associate professor-in-residence and co-director of the UCGHI Center for Gender and Health Justice, conducts research to improve health outcomes and access to care for LGBTQIA+ individuals through community-engaged and equity-focused methods.
The move to UC Irvine builds on this established foundation, leveraging existing faculty, staff, and learners while enhancing the institute's capacity to bring together expertise from various disciplines and UC campuses. UCGHI maintains its commitment to its systemwide mission and collaborative approach to foster a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable world through education, research, service, and partnerships.
