Every year, in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy, UW Health Services and UW Medicine honor members of the university community who have dedicated themselves to serving those in need.

Women, adolescents, and children are three of the world’s most vulnerable populations. According to a report published by Every Woman Every Child, 7.4 million young people under the age of 25 died of preventable causes in 2019, and every hour 33 women did not survive childbirth.   

One of the reasons for these staggering numbers is that women, adolescents, and children are often disenfranchised and underrepresented in scientific research and healthcare.

Dr. Ruanne Barnabas, professor of global health and of medicine, will be leaving the University of Washington at the end of this year to become chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Every year, the Department of Global Health selects a Common Book to serve as a platform for our community of students, staff, and faculty to learn together on topics of common importance. We are happy to share that this year’s DGH Common Book, as voted on by members of the department, is: “Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World” by Anand Giridharadas.