WHS Academic Alliance Focus Topics & Expert Meetings

The WHS Academic Alliance members work together on a range of issues to set the agenda for global health improvement and to convey scientific evidence and advice to policymakers around the globe.

The WHS Academic Alliance promotes both “bench-to-bedside” translation of research and the transformation of current medical care approaches to treating the ill. It is seeking to accomplish this through the creation of a healthcare system focused on the effective prevention of diseases, as well as the adaptation of health-related solutions to rapidly changing living conditions through research in priority areas like shifting demographics, urbanization and climate.


Migrant and Refugee Health has been a WHS Academic Alliance priority topic since 2015. It featured high on the World Health Summit agenda, and the WHS Academic Alliance member Sapienza University of Rome has been organizing annual, dedicated Expert Meetings since 2017.

Read more about upcoming and previous expert meetings, sessions on the topic at the World Health Summit, and publications here

June 12-13, 2024, Sapienza University of Rome
WHS Academic Alliance Expert Meeting: Oral Health and General Health

The first Expert Meeting on oral health was organized by WHS Academic Alliance member Sapienza University of Rome. Led by Professors Domenico Alvaro and Livia Ottolenghi, the event pioneered the inclusion of oral health in global health initiatives in accordance with the WHO Global Action Plan on Oral Health. Renowned speakers, including experts from NYU, Harvard, and Tehran University, University of Bern, and University of Gothenburg, discussed crucial topics like epidemiology, public health, oral and gut microbiome, saliva as a marker of non-communicable diseases, biomarkers and future developments. More than 80 on-site participants were joined by online participants from 33 countries, fostering an environment of fruitful discussions with unique perspectives.
Program and speakers
 

June 29-30, 2018, Istanbul University
WHS Academic Alliance Expert Meeting: Natural Disasters and Health

Natural disasters are unforeseen incidents, and preparedness – being organized for any possible disaster – is crucial. Natural disasters can create irreversible damage and can pose serious threats to human life and public health.

The WHS Academic Alliance works to provide support in order to help save lives, and rehabilitate the survivors after disasters. Experts from different countries gather to discuss the problems of individuals, and to establish a common understanding and a global approach to the public health challenges related to natural disasters worldwide.

On June 29, 2018, more than 40 experts convened for the WHS Academic Alliance Natural Disasters and Health Problems Expert Meeting at Istanbul University. The experts discussed the principles of disaster response and expressed their concerns that many countries around the globe seem to be insufficiently prepared to cope with disasters.
Program and speakers
 

April 10-12, 2018, Geneva Health Forum
WHS Academic Alliance Expert Meeting: Cybersecurity in Healthcare

The workshop was held during the Geneva Health Forum with M8 Alliance experts from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Iran), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (USA), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Germany), the University of Geneva, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (Switzerland).
 

March 8, 2018, University of São Paulo Medical School
WHS Academic Alliance Expert Meeting: Challenges to Innovation in an Academic Health Center

The symposium followed an adopted model in which representatives of leading institutions from Germany, Portugal and the United States were brought in to discuss the theme "Academic health centers: challenges to integrate education, research and assistance".
The symposium brought regional, national and international of health innovation in touch to foster strategic planning and direct investments.
Participants were briefed on the academic systems of the University of São Paulo Medical School and its Health Care complex, Hospital das Clínicas.
Details