Conference

In a world of growing complexity and accelerating change, the need for innovation in global health has never been greater. Innovation in global health is not limited to technologies; it must also shape the way we design health systems, create policies, empower communities, and reimagine leadership for a more equitable and sustainable future.

This year’s OGHS Annual Conference invites participants to explore how innovation at every level— from digital health solutions and system redesign, to grassroots leadership, governance reform, and funding resilience - can transform ideas into lasting impact.

Through keynote addresses, panel discussions, and student-led presentations, we will examine how bold thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community-driven approaches can drive forward a global health landscape that is more inclusive, effective, and resilient.

Across four dynamic sessions, we will discuss:

• How practice and policy innovations translate evidence into action;

• How digital health and technology are reshaping care systems;

• How grassroots leadership and local research fuel global change;

• And how health systems can adapt and thrive amid governance, financial, and environmental shifts.

The conference aims to inspire new collaborations, amplify diverse voices, and foster critical dialogue that moves global health forward from ideas to action.

Conference Panels

1. Innovating Practice and Policy: Transforming Ideas into ActionInnovation in global health must move beyond the conceptual. 

This session brings together experiences in translating research findings into actionable policies, reimagining governance structures, and bridging the gap between evidence generation and real-world impact. Speakers will explore how interdisciplinary collaboration, advocacy, and system reform efforts have turned bold ideas into scalable, sustainable solutions. We will discuss how policy innovation and practical implementation can drive inclusive change, even in the face of entrenched barriers and resource constraints.

2. Digital Health and Innovation: Shaping the Future of Global Health

Digital health technologies and system innovations hold enormous promise but realizing their potential requires thoughtful, equitable application. This session examines how AI, mobile health solutions, and digital tools are reshaping service delivery, enhancing access, and creating more resilient health systems worldwide. At the same time, speakers will address the ethical considerations, governance challenges, and questions of equity that arise when technology is deployed across diverse resource settings. The session invites a critical conversation: how can we ensure that the digital transformation of global health serves to close gaps rather than widen them?

3. Grassroots Innovation: Local Voices, Global Futures

In global health, meaningful change often begins from the ground up. This session highlights the crucial role of local-level research, innovation, and leadership in shaping sustainable, contextspecific health solutions. Rather than imposing top-down models, it is through community-driven initiatives, participatory approaches, and the lived experiences of local researchers that global health can achieve real, lasting progress. Speakers will explore how grassroots knowledge generates more adaptable, equitable interventions, and why centering local voices is essential for designing resilient systems that work across diverse resource settings. The session will also discuss strategies for empowering communities as equal partners in research, policymaking, and program development, not simply as beneficiaries, but as leaders of change.

4. Global Health in Transition: Funding, Governance, and Resilience

The future of global health is being shaped by a rapidly shifting landscape: reduced international funding, political instability, and mounting environmental pressures. This session examines how these evolving forces are challenging traditional models of health governance and service delivery, and how innovation and resilience by actors at all levels are becoming central to adaptation. Speakers will explore the consequences of funding transitions, the evolution of governance frameworks, and the strategies being deployed to sustain health programs in times of uncertainty. The conversation invites critical reflection on how global health actors can reimagine leadership, collaboration, and resource mobilization to build systems that are equitable, responsive, and resilient for the future

Interested in presenting at this conference?

We are currently accepting abstract submissions here!

We invite students, researchers, practitioners, and advocates to submit abstracts for oral or poster presentations aligned with the conference theme, Reimagining Global Health: Innovation in Practice, Policy, and Systems.

Submissions may present innovative research, novel policy initiatives, reimagined service designs, digital health solutions, or community-led practices that are reshaping health systems locally or globally.

Abstract Guidelines:

• Word limit: 300 words

• Structure: Title, Background, Methods/Approach, Results/Insights, Conclusion/Implications

• Submission Deadline: August 30, 2025

• Format Options: Oral Presentation (10 min) or Poster Presentation

Submissions will be reviewed based on relevance, originality, clarity, and potential for real-world impact.

Conference Schedule