Driving impact through collaborative campus engagement
At the University of Michigan's Center for Global Health Equity, we recognize that impactful, interdisciplinary efforts are driven by robust cross-campus support. We are proud to place a unique emphasis on high-level involvement from a diverse array of stakeholders across our university community. Faculty, researchers, students, and administrators from various schools and departments actively engage with the center, meeting regularly to contribute their expertise and perspectives. This collaborative approach helps shape the work of the center, ensuring that our initiatives are comprehensive, innovative, and poised to make a real difference in advancing global health equity.
Center Leadership | Leadership Team | Professional Staff | Advisory Groups
Center Leadership
Leslie D. Yamada and Tachi Yamada M.D. Director, University of Michigan Center for Global Health Equity
Professor of Medicine and Learning Health Sciences, U-M Medical School
Professor of Health Management and Policy, U-M School of Public Health
Associate Director, Center for Global Health Equity
Senior Associate Dean and Professor of Epidemiology, School of Public Health
Ellen Meader, PhD, MEd
Managing Director, Center for Global Health Equity
Senior Advisor, Center for Global Health Equity
Director, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
Professor of Medicine and Healthcare Policy, Medical School
Leadership Team
Director of the African Studies Center, Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Assistant Professor of Systems, Populations, and Leadership, School of Nursing
Tom Lantos Professor of Business Administration, Ross School of Business
Professor of Epidemiology, School of Public Health
Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health
Associate Professor of Learning Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School
Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology, Medical School
Professor of Learning Health Sciences, Medical School
Co-Lead, Data Science Challenge Group; Lead, Aga Khan University Partnership
Professional Staff
Jennifer Chizek
Project Manager
Membership and Outreach, Ghana platform
Kelly Espinoza
Administrative Specialist
Administrative partner for senior leadership, procedures and operations, budget support
Torsten Grabbert
Administrative Specialist
Event planning, membership support, administrative operations and optimization
Parina Kamdar, MBA
Project Manager
Internal grants, India platform, budget strategy
Tania Piotrowski, MHSA
Administrative Advisor
Strategic planning support, Impact Scholars program, Design for Impact in Global Health Challenge Group
Kristina Rice, MA, MSW, MUP
Project Manager
Data Collaborative, Kenya interest group, Climate Vulnerability and Health Challenge Group
Alana Rodriguez, MA, MPH
Project Manager
Student programs, Empowering Women and Communities challenge group, Latin America interest group
Bettina Senga, MPA
Communications Manager
Communications, multimedia production (print, digital, video), website management
Advisory Groups
Advisory groups play a crucial role in ensuring the center remains responsive and aligned with the needs of our members, the U-M community, and our global partners. By providing diverse perspectives and expert insights, they help shape strategies and initiatives that effectively address evolving challenges and opportunities. This collaborative approach enhances our ability to foster meaningful partnerships and deliver impactful solutions.
Executive Committee | Internal Advisory Board | External Advisory Board
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is pivotal in steering the center's vision by advising on proposed strategies and priorities. Meeting every four to six months, this dynamic group identifies opportunities to maximize collaborations across the University of Michigan, ensuring we stay at the forefront of innovation and impact.
Laurie McCauley, DDS, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Michigan
Marschall Runge, MD, PhD
Dean, U-M Medical School
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, Michigan Medicine
Beth Angell, PhD
Dean, U-M School of Social Work
Kate Cagney, PhD
Director, U-M Institute for Social Research
Rosario Ceballo, PhD
Dean, U-M College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Patricia Hurn, PhD
Dean, U-M School of Nursing
Sharon Matusik, PhD
Dean, U-M Ross School of Business
Jonathan Overpeck, PhD
Dean, U-M School for Environment and Sustainability
Karen Thole, PhD
Dean, U-M College of Engineering
Internal Advisory Board
The Internal Advisory Board is essential for driving the successful implementation of the center's strategic priorities and designing tactics that enhance collaboration with individuals not yet connected to global health initiatives. Meeting every four months, this group intentionally overlaps with the Executive Committee to foster a robust community of practice at the University of Michigan and beyond. Their work ensures seamless integration and expansion of our global health efforts.
Valeria Bertacco, PhD
Vice Provost for Engaged Learning
Vicki Ellingrod, PharmD
Dean, College of Pharmacy
Dee Fenner, MD
Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School
Donna Fry, PhD
Dean, College of Health Sciences, University of Michigan–Flint
Carlos González, DDS, MSD, PhD
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Dentistry
Domenico Grasso, PhD
Chancellor, University of Michigan–Dearborn
Brad Killaly, PhD, MPA
Associate Dean, MBA Programs, U-M Ross School of Business
Larissa Larsen, PhD
Director of Urban and Regional Planning Program, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Earl Lewis, PhD
Director, Center for Social Solutions, U-M College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Elizabeth Moje, PhD
Dean, School of Education
Brahmajee Nallamothu, MD
Co-Director, Precision Health
Richard Neitzel, PhD
Associate Director of Global Public Health, School of Public Health
Lori Ploutz‐Snyder, PhD
Dean, School of Kinesiology
Melynda J. Price, JD, PhD
Executive Director, Institute for Research on Women & Gender
Lisa Prosser, PhD, MS
Associate Vice President for Research - Health Sciences, University of Michigan Office of Research
Jeanne-Marie Stacciarini, PhD
Associate Dean for Global Affairs and Community Engagement, School of Nursing
Wendy Taylor, MPP
President and CEO, William Davidson Institute
Tiffany Veinot, MLS, PhD
Joan C Durrance Collegiate Professor of Information, School of Information
External Advisory Board
Comprising distinguished leaders in global health, the External Advisory Board offers strategic insights and guidance to elevate the center's impact on a global stage. Meeting quarterly, this esteemed group builds on their long-standing ties with the University of Michigan to forge valuable partnerships and collaborative opportunities across the international community. Their expertise ensures that our initiatives remain innovative and responsive to the ever-changing landscape of global health.
Richard Adanu, MB.ChB, MPH
Rector, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons
Professor of Women’s Reproductive Health, University of Ghana
James W. Curran, MD, MPH
Professor of Epidemiology and Global Health
Dean Emeritus, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University
Julio Frenk MD, MPH, PhD
Chancellor, University of California, Los Angeles
Helena Legido-Quigley, PhD
Chair, Health Systems Science, George Institute UK
Srinath Reddy, MD, DM, MSc
Founder, Past President, and Honorary Distinguished Professor of Public Health, Public Health Foundation of India
Nelson Sewankambo, MBChB, MSc, M.MED, FAAS, FRCP, LLD (HC)
Professor Emeritus and former Dean of Makerere Medical School, Uganda
Vera Songwe, PhD
Senior Fellow, Africa Growth Initiative, Brookings Institution
Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin, MD, MSc
Executive Director of the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health