To advance its commitment to the principles of social justice and health equity, the University of Washington Department of Global Health created the new position of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). James Pfeiffer, UW professor of global health and of anthropology, has been selected to inaugurate the role.

When Dr. Paul Farmer passed away in Rwanda on Monday, February 21, there was a collective gasp of disbelief across the global health world. Dr. Farmer was only 62 years old and still full of energy and purpose. Many in the DGH community and beyond at the UW knew him well and had experienced his legendary charisma and vision. 

As a child, Corrie Ortega played with circuit boards. Her father, an electrical engineer, set them up for her to nurture her natural curiosity for science and mathematics. This early encouragement and exposure sent Ortega down a path to breaking glass ceilings in healthcare technology and business.

Ortega, who grew up in Chicago, received a bachelor’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. She was originally pre-med, but an independent study in a malaria research lab opened her eyes to the exciting intersection of healthcare and technology.

Each year the UW Department of Global Health is able to provide partial to full funding to recruit top applicants. In addition to financial support, some recipients also receive mentorship and real-world experience through research assistant positions. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 14 outstanding graduate students received funding to support their studies. Learn more about this impressive cohort, including their journeys to arrive at UW and the impact they hope to have on the field of global health.