title: American Mock World Health Organization: An Innovative Model for Student Engagement in Global Health Policy.
abstract: The American Mock World Health Organization (AMWHO) is a model for experiential-based learning and student engagement in global health diplomacy. AMWHO was established in 2014 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a mission to engage students in health policy by providing a simulation of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the policy-forming body of the World Health Organization that sets norms and transforms the global health agenda. AMWHO conferences are designed to allow students to take their knowledge of global health beyond the classroom and practice their skills in diplomacy by assuming the role of WHA delegates throughout a 3-day weekend. Through the process of developing resolutions like those formed in the WHA, students have the unique opportunity to understand the complexities behind the conflict and compromise that ensues through the lens of a stakeholder. This article describes the structure of the first 2 AMWHO international conferences, analyzes survey results from attendees, and discusses the expansion of the organization into a multi-campus national network. The AMWHO 2014 and 2015 post-conference survey results found that 98% and 90% of participants considered the conference "good" or "better," respectively, and survey responses showed that participants considered the conference "influential" in their careers and indicated that it "allowed a paradigm shift not possible in class."
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. mia.virginia.lei@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Acharya
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kwok Man Lee
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Catherine Holcomb
authors.affiliation: Fielding School of Public Health, The University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kapoor
mesh_terms: D014943:Global Health; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013337:Students, Medical; D014481:United States; D014944:World Health Organization