For nearly 25 years, Partners In Health has been relentlessly committed to improving the health of the poor and marginalized. They have developed innovative, scalable and sustainable solutions to some of the world’s most intractable health problems. This year’s Symposium will highlight the importance of partnerships in sustaining our life-saving work and building the movement for global health and social justice. PIH will also honor their longtime and devoted partner, Thomas J. White who passed away this January. Join Partners In Health leadership, site representatives, and emerging leaders to reflect on the many other partners who have followed Tom’s example, making it possible for them to deepen their commitment to the world’s poorest communities (Partners in Health, http://www.pih.org/symposium).
Peter Luckow, a 2010 Northwestern graduate, co-founder of GlobeMed, and 2007 PIH intern, spoke at the symposium about his work as director of operations for Tiyatien Health, a social justice organization which partners with rural communities and the Liberian government to advance health care and the fundamental rights of the poor. He shared a story of a 5-year old girl named Grace whose life was miraculously saved due to the creativity and urgency of the numerous people and organizations who stayed involved and pulled strings wherever they could, until "the seemingly impossible had been accomplished." Peter describes how he was struck by those who cared for Grace when he saw "how easy it would have been to do just the opposite." Peter describes looking at approaches towards impacting global health as a series of possibilities rather than barriers, and he reflects on the history of the student network he helped to create at Northwestern, GlobeMed, which now has 46 chapters around the country and continues to expand.