Public Health Diplomacy Lab Publication | PH Diplo - March 2026 by UofMEM School of Public Health

PH DIPLO

AN INITIATIVE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIPLOMACY LAB

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

THIRD EDITION | MARCH 2026

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Editorial Team

Diyala Abdlrasul, MPP Coordinator of Communication and Events

Kami Geron, MA

Instructional Designer and Coordinator

Niharika Jha, MPH

PhD Candidate and Graduate Assistant

Laura Granack, MS

SPH Coordinator for the Dean

Follow the School of Public Health

Inaugural Issue #3 | March 2026

A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION

University of Memphis School of Public Health

memphis.edu/publichealth

of Memphis | School of Public Health

University

Dean’s Message

I am delighted to share with you some of the key milestones over the last one year that the Public Health Diplomacy lab established at the University of Memphis School of Public Health has accomplished.

The nation’s 1st Public Health Diplomacy lab at the School of Public Health was established in April 2024 with the aim to bring together different disciplines and stakeholders-governments, NGOs, academics, and civic society to improve collaboration and coordination among all actors to promote health and well-being through the understanding of broad stakeholder engagement, consensus building, and negotiations.

The activities began with organizing the inaugural Public Health Diplomacy Summit bringing 29 experts across 15 countries to define public health diplomacy and come up with a 9-point action plan, established Public Health Diplomacy Steering Group, launched the International Public Health Diplomacy Advisory Group, participated in regional World Health Summit, invited to present at the ASPHER 2025 Deans’ and Directors’ retreat in Berlin, organized public health diplomacy workshop with Young Forum Gastein and participated in a major event organized at the European Health Forum Gastein held at Bad Gastein Austria. We also conducted Public Health Diplomacy workshop at the Health care and Sustainability Conference conducted by Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazaksthan.

The Public Health Diplomacy lab is also part of the Health Diplomacy Institutional Network. The lab has published and presented several key research papers around Public Health Diplomacy in high quality peer reviewed journals and presented their work at the Annual 2025 American Public Health Association conference held at Washington DC. The lab is also participating with other researchers by having a call for papers on “Public Health Diplomacy in a complex world”: as a special issue with IJPH and Public Health Reviews.

The lab has established collaborations and partnerships across several regions including Middle East, Asia, Eastern, Central and Southern Africa, and Central Asia. The 2nd Public Health Diplomacy Summit “Regional and International Cooperation to advance Public Health Diplomacy among the schools and programs of public health is planned from March 23-25, 2026 at the University of Memphis.

I want to thank all the collaborators for their continued support to advance the field of public health diplomacy as an emerging field in an era of complexity, uncertainty and unpredictability.

Ashish

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Public Health Diplomacy

Defining a New Field

“Multidisciplinary field that enables its practitioners to effectively communicate, facilitate, negotiate and build consensus using systems thinking, evidence based, community-informed approaches, based on equity-focused and human-centered values to improve health and well-being for all’” Joshi, et al 2025, Front Public Health. 2025 Apr 11;13:1564709.

Why Public Health Diplomacy?

Urgent need to tackle numerous global health threats

Countries and their representatives do not interact solely through traditional diplomatic channels

Commitment to local, regional & global cooperation and governance

Value of integrating health into all government policies is recognized

Communicating complex and technical information in an understandable, persuasive way for different audiences

Crucial for making influence given the need to work across different sectors with various actors that can influence public health outcomes

1 | Public Health Diplomacy Lab

Papers

Public Health Diplomacy: Summary of the Methods and Outcome of the 1st University of Memphis School of Public Health Diplomacy Summit

Public health diplomacy addresses global challenges impacting societies, economies, the environment, and health by integrating foreign policy and development. The University of Memphis School of Public Health hosted a multistakeholder summit to identify strategies and competencies essential for effective public health diplomacy. A 3-day summit included 29 participants from 15 countries, representing the WHO, the World Federation of United Nations, and seven regional public health associations. Joshi A, et al, Front Public Health. 13:1564709. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2025.1564709.

Health diplomacy training, pedagogical approaches, and skills assessment: a scoping review

Health diplomacy is gaining increasing importance as an approach in addressing domestic and global health challenges, yet educational programs that prepare future practitioners remain underdeveloped in addressing skills core to this domain of public health practice. Training in health diplomacy is critical for building interdisciplinary competencies needed to navigate increasingly complex negotiations, cross-cultural engagements, and policy influence. Joshi A, et al. Front. Public Health. 13:1729728. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1729728

An Agenda for Public Health Diplomacy in an Age of Populism

Public health stands at a critical crossroads. In recent years, the global political landscape has been reshaped by the rise of populism, the spread of disinformation, and the weakening of multilateral institutions. These forces have eroded trust in science, undermined human rights, and disrupted international cooperation, core pillars upon which public health progress depends. We propose nine ways forward: create diplomacy labs for crisis simulation; empower non-state actors like cities and NGOs; strengthen ethical communication and listening; protect health workers; build alternative accountability systems; reframe health as a diplomatic priority; decentralise and diversify funding; develop a new diplomacy curriculum; reinvent and defend multilateralism. Joshi et al, Public Health. 46:1609089. doi: 10.3389/phrs.2025.1609089

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Public Health Diplomacy Lab

Mission

“The Public Health Diplomacy lab at the School of Public Health the first of its kind in the country aims to bring together different disciplines and stakeholders-governments, NGOs, academics, and civic society to improve collaboration and coordination among all actors to promote health and well-being through the understanding of broad stakeholder engagement, consensus building, and negotiations, " says Dean Ashish Joshi.

Vision

The Public Health Diplomacy Lab at the University of Memphis School of Public Health serves as a dynamic platform uniting diverse stakeholders from local community partners to global institutions to address the world's most pressing public health challenges through collaboration, innovation, and diplomacy. The PHD Lab is a hub for knowledge generation, advocating for participatory, collaborative, and strategic approaches to improve health and well-being of all populations across various geographic settings.

3 | Public Health Diplomacy Lab

Objectives

The lab convenes a wide range of stakeholders to:

Advance population health locally and globally

Support evidence-based decision-making in health policy

Foster international dialogue and cross-sectoral collaboration

Promote fair and equitable access to healthcare resources

2024 Milestones

April 2024 September 2024

Launched Public Health Diplomacy Lab

The School of Public Health at the University of Memphis is launching a Public Health Diplomacy Lab the first of its kind in the country as it joins an international alliance of institutions dedicated to protecting human rights, sustainability and access to education.

Inaugural Public Health Diplomacy Summit

From Sept. 25-27, 2024, the UofM hosted the first Public Health Diplomacy Summit in collaboration with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) and the Global Network for Academic Public Health (GNAPH).

November 2024

Establish Public Health

Diplomacy Steering Group

The Public Health Diplomacy Steering Group serves as a global platform for collaboration among academic institutions, public health professionals, policymakers and civil society organizations. Its primary aim is to advance the field of public health diplomacy by fostering dialogue, sharing best practices and developing competencies essential for addressing global health challenges.

Through these initiatives, the Steering Group aims to strengthen the integration of diplomacy in public health practice, ensuring that health considerations are central to international relations and policy decisions.

December 2024

Launch Public Health

Diplomacy Website

Our website houses an online, interactive resource hub to disseminate Public Health Diplomacy Research, Innovation, Skills, and Experiential (PHD-RISE) learning opportunities globally. This website organizes events to help raise awareness about public health diplomacy in the field of public health. By analyzing and sharing collaborators and partners experiences, best practices and achievements in public health diplomacy we help develop the field-expanding partnerships to advance public health diplomacy.

2025 Milestones

April 2025 May 2025

Published Findings of Public Health Diplomacy Summit

The Public Health Diplomacy paper has been published in Frontiers, a publisher of peerreviewed articles in open-access journals, "Public health diplomacy: summary of the methods and outcome of the 1st University of Memphis School of Public Health Diplomacy Summit" .

The three-day inaugural summit was organized at the University of Memphis School of Public Health, bringing together 29 participants from 15 countries including representatives from the WHO, the World Federation of United Nations Associations and seven regional public health associations to identify strategies and competencies essential for advancing public health diplomacy.

UofM SPH Public Health

Diplomacy Lab Participates in World Health Alliance Summit

Held in New Delhi, India

Dean Joshi was the moderator for the session “Public Health Diplomacy: An Emerging Public Health Competency Towards Consensus Building, Negotiations, and Multilateral Partnerships” at the World Health Summit Regional Meeting in New Delhi, India. The session focused on the complex and interconnected challenges facing public health today, many of which require policy-driven solutions that tackle the broader social and environmental determinants of health. Diplomacy the art and practice of negotiation enables nations to implement foreign policy, safeguard their interests and foster cooperative relationships.

Public Health Diplomacy:

June 2025 June 2025

ASPHER 2025 Deans’ and Directors’ Retreat

Dean Ashish Joshi presented at the Public Health Diplomacy: Global session at the ASPHER 2025 Deans’ and Directors’ Retreat in Berlin, Germany

International Public Health Diplomacy Advisory Group Established

The International Public Health Diplomacy Advisory Group supports brings together global health leaders, diplomats and policy experts dedicated to advancing the intersection of public health and international relations. The responsibility of the advisory group is to offer strategic guidance, promote cross-border collaboration and help shape the Lab’s efforts to train future health diplomats.

August 2025 Public Health Diplomacy Lab

Joins the Health

Diplomacy

Institutional Network

The Health Diplomacy Institutional Network is an international alliance of academic institutions dedicated to advancing the field of health diplomacy by strengthening the academic and practical foundations of global health diplomacy and providing a global platform for collaborative innovation. The network fosters collaboration among universities and research centers worldwide, spanning regions such as Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania. Key priorities include academic collaboration, interdisciplinary research and innovation, the support of professional development, health policy and advocacy at regional and global levels and the expansion of global outreach by building partnerships with governments and organizations.

In accordance to point nine from the summit’s action items, the School of Public Health created this publication to disseminate recommendations from participants to their respective institutions to move forward. It will be published quarterly, sharing Public Health Diplomacy in action around the world.

September 2025

Participation at the UNGA

80 ECSA-HC at the Science

Summit, New York, NY

The East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) proudly marked a historic milestone at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) by convening a high-level side event on Science Diplomacy, organized in collaboration with the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

October 2025

European Health Forum

Gastein (EHFG) 2025

Conference, Austria

Participated in the Workshop on Public Health Diplomacy with the Young Forum Gastein at the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) in Austria organized by the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region and the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health.

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

November 2025

GAs Represent Public Health Diplomacy Lab at APHA 2025 held in D.C.

GAs from the University of Memphis, School of Public Health represented the Public Health Diplomacy Lab at APHA 2025 held in D.C.

December 2025 2nd Quarterly

Newsletter "PH Diplo"

Published

In accordance to point nine from the summit’s action items, the School of Public Health created this publication to disseminate recommendations from participants to their respective institutions to move forward. The second Quarterly Newsletter "PH Diplo" Published, sharing Public Health Diplomacy in action around the world.

December 2025

Published Public Health

Diplomacy a Scoping Review

Published a paper on ‘Health diplomacy training, pedagogical approaches, and skills assessment: a scoping review

December 2025 Public Health Diplomacy Workshop at Kazakhstan, Conference

Dean Ashish Joshi participated in the Public Health Diplomacy Workshop at the Healthcare and Sustainability Conference, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan.

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Milestones 2026

February 2026

Published Public Health

Diplomacy a Scoping Review

Dean Ashish Joshi attended the 76th ECSA-HC Health Ministers Conference in Eswatini and signed the initiatives MOU advancing regional cooperation on health systems, workforce development and education through partnering to enhance research, education, and crosscultural understanding

March 2026

Second Public Health

Diplomacy Summit

This Public Health Diplomacy Summit will focus on Regional and International Cooperation to Advance Public Health Diplomacy Among the Schools and Programs of Pubic Health.

Upcoming Events

April 2026

4th Interdisciplinary World Health Congress

From April 12-17, 2026 on Health Research and Education in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. Hosted by the Faculty of Medicine “Ibn Al-Jazzat” in Sousse, Tunisia.

4thInterdisciplinary WorldHealthCongress WorldHealthCongress

Dean Joshi Speaking at WGES Global™ Symposium

May 19-21, 2026 | Athens, Greece Presented by: WGES Global™ (US) Hosted under the distinguished hospitality of the Holy Synod of Greece at The Cultural Center, Kolonaki. May 2026

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

June 2026

World Congress of Psychotherapy

Dean Joshi participates in session on Health Diplomacy and Mental Health in the Global Era from June 4-6, 2026 at the UN Headquarters & City University of New York, NY

July 2026

ASPHER Deans' & Directors' Retreat

Dean Joshi to attend the Deans’ and Directors’ Retreat from July 15-18, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Hosted by Postgraduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine - University of Milan, WHO Collaborating Centre for Design & Health - Polytechnic of Milan, Postgraduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine - University of Pavia, Postgraduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine - Vita-Salute San Raffaele University.

September 2026

18th World Congress on Public Health

From September 6-9, 2026, the World Congress on Public Health (WCPH) will be held biennially by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA). The 18th WCPH 2026, organized in collaboration with the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA), will occur in Cape Town. Dean Joshi to join the 2,000 delegates expected to attend.

September 2026

EHFG Conference: Health for a Stronger European Union

European Health Forum Gastein Conference: Health for a Stronger European Union - High Time for Action! Sept 29-Oct 2, 2026

Bad Hofgastein, Austria

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Public Health Diplomacy Collaboration

Network of Public Health Diplomacy Collaboration

The International Public Health Diplomacy Advisory Group offers global and regional perspectives to inform the Lab’s work and Summit outcomes, ensuring relevance across diverse political, cultural, and health system contexts. Members bring extensive expertise in global health governance, diplomacy, policy, and practice, and contribute to shaping curricula, research agendas, and international engagement strategies.

International Public Health Diplomacy Advisory Group

Janilza Silveria Silva

Former Public Health Specialist, Cabo Verde

Luís de Almeida Sampaio

Former Ambassador, Portugal

Julietha Gosbert Tibyesiga Youth Advocate, Tanzania

Josephine Kibaru-Mbae

Former Director General, Kenya

Shiva Murugasampillay Medical Officer,

Tiruneh Baye Technical Officer, Ethiopia

Ntuli Angyelile Kapologwe Director General, Tanzania

Josep Figueras

Director Emeritus, Belgium

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Public Health Diplomacy Lab Members

Public Health Diplomacy Steering Group

The Public Health Diplomacy Steering Group serves as a global platform for collaboration among academic institutions, public health professionals, policymakers, and civil society organizations. Its primary aim is to advance the field of public health diplomacy by fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and developing competencies essential for addressing global health challenges.

Dr. Ashish Joshi

Dean and Distinguished Professor, School of Public Health

Prof. So Yoon Kim

Professor, Yonsei University, President of APACPH, Korea Region Office, South Korea

Dr. Laura Magaña

President and CEO, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH), USA

Dr. Woldekidan Amde

Senior Researcher, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Dr. Rodrigo Reis

Assistant ViceProvost and Director, Office of Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., USA

Dr. Bridget Kelly

Associate Professor, University of Wollongong, Australia

Dr. Ramunė Kalėdienė

Head of Department of Health Management, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania

Catherine Kane

Technical officer, Health

Workforce dept., World Health

Organization, Switzerland

Dr. Tim Ken Mackey

Director of the Global Health Policy and Data Institute (GHPDi) and Professor of Global Health at UC San Diego, USA

Dr. Erica Kastrup

Cooperation Advisor, Researcher at the CRIS Center for International Relations in Health of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil

Prof. Rajendra Surenthirakumaran

Professor in Community Medicine and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

Dr. Matthew Brown

Sergio Vieira de Mello

Endowed Chair in the Practice of Post-Conflict Diplomacy School of Diplomacy and International Relations Seton Hall University

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Public Health Diplomacy in Action

Outcomes and Nine-Point Action Plan

The Inaugural Public Health Diplomacy Summit, organized by the University of Memphis School of Public Health in collaboration with the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health and dvance public health diplomacy g ativ ff

Progress

1. Establish a Public Health Diplomacy Working Group globally Member schools and programs from ASPPH and GNAPH will be invited to participate INITIATED

2. Create Public Health Diplomacy capacity-building group globally that will work with key public health training and academic institutions across various regions to gather insights into the skills and competencies essential for public health students. INITIATED

3. Identify global and region-specific learning outcomes to prepare public health students to succeed in an interconnected and complex world through public health diplomacy. INITIATED

4. Advance public health diplomacy initiative by engaging decision-makers and stakeholders (including foreign services, ministries of health, academic institutes, civil society members, policy makers and other international organizations like WHO and UN) in your own region to create more awareness about the field. ONGOING

5. Develop an online, interactive resource hub to disseminate Public Health Diplomacy Research, Innovation, Skills and Experiential (PHD-RISE) learning opportunities globally. COMPLETED

6. Organize events to help raise awareness about public health diplomacy in the field of public health INITIATED

7. Analyze and share the region’s experiences, best practices and achievements in public health diplomacy across various communication outlets to further develop the field.

2ND SUMMIT AGENDA

8. Expand regional and institutional partnerships in collaboration with the University of Memphis School of Public Health, ASPPH and GNAPH to advance public health diplomacy. INITIATED

9. Disseminate recommendations from participants to their respective institutions to move forward LAUNCHED

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Second Public Health Diplomacy Summit

Diplomacy Among the Schools and Programs of Public Health March 23

Regional and International Cooperation to Advance Public Health

Welcoming Reception at the FedEx Institute of Technology (FIT) at the University of Memphis.

Antonio Sarría-Santamera | Ashraf El-Metwally | Luís de Almeida Sampaio | Josep Figueras |

Beverly Tsacoyianis | Gretchen Peterson | Diana Ruggiero

23 | Public Health Diplomacy Lab

March 24

Public Health Diplomacy Panel Discussions

A Paradigm Shift from Global Health Diplomacy to Public Health Diplomacy

Panelists: Matthew Brown (USA), Rajendra Surenthirakumaran (Sri Lanka), Kun-Hsien Tsai (Taiwan)

Public Health Diplomacy: Lessons Learned and Opportunities Ahead

Panelists: Luis de Almeida Sampaio (Portugal), Erica Kastrup (Brazil), Shawna Novak (Canada)

Health Security and Public Health Diplomacy in an African Context

Panelists: Woldekidan Amde (South Africa), Olagoke Akintola (South Africa), Margaret Kaseje (Kenya), Tiruneh Baye (Ethiopia), Ntuli Kapologwe (Tanzania)

Advancing Public Health Diplomacy in Europe: ASPHER Perspective

Panelists: Robert Otok (Belgium), Ramune Kalediene (Lithuania), Henrique Barros (Portugal)

Engaging Public Health Students and Practitioners in Applied Public Health Diplomacy Initiatives

Panelists: Antonio Sarria-Santamera (Kazakhstan), Ashraf El-Metwally (Saudi Arabia), William Yotive (USA), Rodrigo Reis (USA), Woldekidan Amde (South Africa), Ramune Kaliene (Lithuania)

Wrap-Up and Discussion

Panelists: Laura Magaña (USA), Josep Figueras (Belgium), Erica Kastrup (Brazil), Robert Otok (Belgium), Ashish Joshi (USA)

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

March

Exploring Experiential Learning Opportunities for Students in Public Health Diplomacy

Moderators: Ashish Joshi (USA) and Laura Magana (USA)

Panelists: Matthew Brown (USA), Luis de Almeida Sampaio (Portugal), Ramune Kalediene (Lithuania), Erica Kastrup (Brazil), Olagoke Akintola (South Africa), Rajendra Surenthirakumaren (Sri Lanka) and Antonio SarriaSantamera (Kazakhstan)

Canada

Kazakhstan

Belgium

Lithuania

Brazil

United Kingdom

Portugal

Taiwan USA

Ethiopia

Kenya

Tanzania

Saudi

Malaysia

South

University of Memphis | School of Public Health

Way Forward

Moderators: Paul Barach (USA), Rodrigo Reis (USA), Shawna Novak (Canada), Erica Kastrup (Brazil)

Launch the Executive “Public Health Diplomacy in Practice” Program

Executive Program in Public Health Diplomacy in collaboration with the following partners: University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka | University of Coimbra, Portugal | University of Western Cape, South Africa | East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, Tanzania | The Institute of Public Health of the University of Porto, Portugal | Canadian International Scientific Exchange Program, Canada | Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan | King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Saudi Arabia | Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil University of Malaya, Malaysia