title: Training the next generation of global health experts: experiences and recommendations from Pacific Rim universities.
abstract: Finding solutions to global health problems will require a highly-trained, inter-disciplinary workforce. Global health education and research can potentially have long-range impact in addressing the global burden of disease and protecting and improving the health of the global population.
  
  
  
  We conducted an online survey of twelve higher education institutions in the Pacific Rim that spanned the period 2005-2011. Program administrators provided data on program concentrations, student enrollment and student funding opportunities for 41 public health programs, including those specific to global health.
  
  
  
  The Master of Public Health (MPH) was the most common degree offered. A growing demand for global health education was evident. Enrollment in global health programs increased over three-fold between 2005-2011. Very few institutions had specific global health programs or offered training to undergraduates. Funding for student scholarships was also lacking.
  
  
  
  The growing demand for global health education suggests that universities in the Pacific Rim should increase educational and training opportunities in this field. Schools of medicine may not be fully equipped to teach global health-related courses and to mentor students who are interested in global health. Increasing the number of dedicated global health research and training institutions in the Pacific Rim can contribute to building capacity in the region. Faculty from different departments and disciplines should be engaged to provide multi-disciplinary global health educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. New, innovative ways to collaborate in education, such as distance education, can also help universities offer a wider range of global health-related courses. Additional funding of global health is also required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2001 N Soto Street SSB 318G, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA. mwithers@usc.edu.
authors.forename: Mellissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2001 N Soto Street SSB 318G, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Press
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2001 N Soto Street SSB 318G, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wipfli
authors.affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCool
authors.affiliation: National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Public Health, Global Health Center, Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.
authors.forename: Chang-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Global Health, University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masamine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jimba
authors.affiliation: Association of Pacific Rim Universities, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tremewan
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2001 N Soto Street SSB 318G, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057191:Capacity Building / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005378:Financial Support; D014943:Global Health / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D011634:Public Health / Q000193:education*; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000639:trends; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Academic programs; Global health degrees; Global health education; MPH; Pacific Rim; Training