The UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID) provides learners at all levels the opportunity to do global health research. This includes Master of Public Health (MPH) students at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Many of these students are mentored by IGHID investigators leading research in infectious diseases and global health across IGHID’s sites (including Malawi, China, Vietnam, Liberia and Zambia) and in other parts of the world. Many also have faculty appointments at the Gillings School.
Suzanne Maman, PhD, is the Institute’s Associate Director of Education. She’s also the associate dean for global health at the Gillings School, and professor of health behavior.
“Practicum opportunities through our global hubs are truly transformative for students,” said Suzanne Maman, PhD, associate dean for global health at the Gillings School. “They provide a unique chance to apply the MPH training gained at Gillings within long-standing partnerships built by our faculty over decades. These hubs offer dynamic environments where students can continue to grow professionally and personally while contributing meaningfully to high-impact work that makes a real difference.”
Most recently, in summer 2025, eight Gillings students worked across the four hubs on projects that advanced clinical care, strengthened data systems, informed research projects and supported community-driven programming. Their work produced valuable deliverables for local teams while offering the students firsthand experience navigating the complexities of public health in a low-resource setting.
Read more in this message from Maman recognizing the success of the Gillings MPH program and how the Institute’s long-standing global infrastructure provides the foundation for high-quality research and training.