The University of California, Irvine has been selected as the new administrative home for the University of California Global Health Institute (UCGHI). This systemwide organization will relocate its operations to UCI's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. The move, announced on September 14, 2026, aims to advance health equity through expanded research, education, training, and strategic partnerships.
UCGHI addresses pressing issues such as widening health disparities, climate-related health threats, and workforce shortages. Its presence at UC Irvine is expected to reinforce the university’s growing international leadership in public health. The institute works to improve the health and well-being of communities, both within California and globally.
Founded in 2008, the UCGHI has served as the University of California's central hub for systemwide global health collaboration. It was established under the leadership of founding director emeritus Dr. Haile Debas. Since 2022, Dr. Madhavi Dandu, a professor of medicine at UC San Francisco, has led the institute. The UCGHI brings together faculty, staff, learners, and partners from across all ten UC campuses, united by a commitment to advancing health equity and cultivating future global health leaders.
Bernadette Boden-Albala, the founding dean of the Wen Public Health school and a UCGHI Advisory Council member since 2021, noted the institute "embodies the very best of the UC system: collaboration across disciplines, campuses and communities." She stated that UC Irvine is proud to host the institute's new administrative home and looks forward to supporting its continued growth. This transition, Boden-Albala explained, "reinforces our commitment to advancing health equity, fostering innovation and strengthening partnerships" that improve lives in California and worldwide.
The UCGHI operates as a nationally recognized model for cross-campus collaboration. It leads several multidisciplinary systemwide centers and programs. These include the Center for Planetary Health, which focuses on the intersection of human health and environmental systems; the Center for Gender and Health Justice; and the Center for Health Workforce, dedicated to addressing healthcare personnel needs. Additionally, the institute manages the GloCal Health Fellowship, a program offering interdisciplinary education and training for aspiring global health researchers.
The institute has developed a comprehensive educational pathway, providing learning opportunities from high school through undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies. This pathway helps students acquire knowledge and experience in global health, exploring potential career development in the field.
UC Irvine faculty have actively contributed to the institute's work for an extended period. Oladele Ogunseitan, a Distinguished Professor and director of the UCGHI Global Health Education Program, has advanced environmental health and sustainability 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 aimed at improving health outcomes and access to care for LGBTQIA+ individuals through community-engaged and equity-focused methods.
Dr. Dandu emphasized that the institute began with the idea that "no single institution can solve today’s complex health challenges alone." She highlighted that the institute's strength comes from uniting the expertise, creativity, and commitment of individuals from all UC campuses and global partners. As the UCGHI establishes its new chapter at UC Irvine, its commitment to its systemwide mission remains, with plans to expand its impact and strengthen collaborations for a healthier and more equitable future.
The relocation to UC Irvine is expected to build upon the UCGHI's existing foundation with UC Irvine faculty, staff, and learners. It aims to enhance the institute's capacity to convene diverse teams and foster innovation, ultimately developing solutions that improve health for communities both locally and globally. UC Irvine, founded in 1965, is a significant contributor to the local economy, generating $7 billion annually for Orange County. Its role as the second-largest employer in the county underscores the local impact of hosting an institute dedicated to global health research and solutions.
