In an enlightening discussion about global health equity and the potential of technology to address its challenges, Arun Rath, host of GBH News' All Things Founded programme, and Professor Karen Oates of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, provide some insights. Oates, who is leading a new degree program in global health, stressed the need to understand and address health disparities around the world.
Public health versus global health
Oates highlighted the distinction between public health and global health during the conversation. While public health focuses primarily on individual communities or countries, global health includes a global perspective, addressing pressing issues such as pandemics and climate change.
The intersection of technology, science and humanity
the The future of global healthAccording to Oates, it lies at the crossroads of technology, science and humanity. She pointed to the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in accelerating the identification and solution of health-related problems. These technologies can significantly reduce the time needed to identify and treat health problems.
Ethical data collection in global health
The discussion also highlighted the importance of collecting ethical data and engaging local communities in the research process. Oates stressed the need for transparency and eliminating bias in data collection. While some aspects of data collection, such as the use of GIS for water sources, are progressing well, others need further development.
A new program at Worcester Polytechnic Institute aims to harness the power of artificial intelligence to connect and find patterns in big data. In doing so, it hopes to better understand and address global health issues, and push the boundaries of what is possible in global health technology.
