Empowering global health diplomacy: Georgia’s educational bridge to the world
1
Global and European Health Education and Study Institute, The University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) has emerged as a critical skill set for professionals operating at the intersection of public health, international relations, and policy negotiation (1-4). Recognizing this need, the University of Georgia established a first-of-its-kind GHD course in the region through the Global and European Health Education and Study Institute, as part of its continuous professional education offerings. Supported by the Fogarty International Center and the World Health Organization country office in Georgia, the course has been successfully delivered multiple times since its inception. This intensive, multi-day training targets public and global health professionals, diplomats, and individuals from NGOs, international organizations, and various health-related fields who aim to work at the global health-policy interface. The curriculum covers a broad range of contemporary topics, including key actors and stakeholders in global health governance, the role and impact of official development assistance, international health regulations, health security and pandemic preparedness, soft and hard power dynamics, climate and planetary health, digital health and artificial intelligence, and negotiation strategies. Teaching methods include lectures, interactive case studies, policy simulations, and expert-led panel discussions by prominent national and international experts. Case-based learning has included real-world scenarios such as global vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic and the negotiation of the pandemic treaty among countries and global health stakeholders. Evaluation results indicate high participant satisfaction and improved competence in applying diplomacy to address global health challenges. This course presents a replicable model for integrating diplomacy and policy training into public health education, not only as part of continuous professional development, but also as a formal component within academic programs. The University of Georgia plans to institutionalize the course within its forthcoming Master of Global Public Health program, thereby contributing to strengthened national and regional capacities for addressing global health threats through informed and collaborative diplomacy.
Global Health Diplomacy (GHD) has emerged as a critical skill set for professionals operating at the intersection of public health, international relations, and policy negotiation (1-4). Recognizing this need, the University of Georgia established a first-of-its-kind GHD course in the region through the Global and European Health Education and Study Institute, as part of its continuous professional education offerings. Supported by the Fogarty International Center and the World Health Organization country office in Georgia, the course has been successfully delivered multiple times since its inception. This intensive, multi-day training targets public and global health professionals, diplomats, and individuals from NGOs, international organizations, and various health-related fields who aim to work at the global health-policy interface. The curriculum covers a broad range of contemporary topics, including key actors and stakeholders in global health governance, the role and impact of official development assistance, international health regulations, health security and pandemic preparedness, soft and hard power dynamics, climate and planetary health, digital health and artificial intelligence, and negotiation strategies. Teaching methods include lectures, interactive case studies, policy simulations, and expert-led panel discussions by prominent national and international experts. Case-based learning has included real-world scenarios such as global vaccine diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic and the negotiation of the pandemic treaty among countries and global health stakeholders. Evaluation results indicate high participant satisfaction and improved competence in applying diplomacy to address global health challenges. This course presents a replicable model for integrating diplomacy and policy training into public health education, not only as part of continuous professional development, but also as a formal component within academic programs. The University of Georgia plans to institutionalize the course within its forthcoming Master of Global Public Health program, thereby contributing to strengthened national and regional capacities for addressing global health threats through informed and collaborative diplomacy.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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