Joseph Kolars is Senior Advisor and former founding Executive Director of the Center for Global Health Equity, as well as past director of the medical school’s Global REACH program. He serves as Professor of Medicine and Health Professions Education in the U-M Medical School, Professor of Health Management and Policy in the U-M School of Public Health, a consultant to NIH’s Fogarty Center and their AFRE health initiatives in Africa, and as co-director of the Joint Institute for Translational and Clinical Research (PUUMA).

Kolars' global work focuses on strengthening health systems in low-resource countries to improve the education and training of healthcare workers. His interests in global health equity align with the Center's theme of strengthening systems for health. Kolars’ research assesses teaching quality within the medical curriculum, examines educational outcomes, and aims to improve patient care.