W 2022
Working in Global Health and Equity with Dr. Peter A. Singer, WHO
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
An evening with Dr. Peter A. Singer, Special Advisor to the Director General, World Health Organization (external link) (WHO)
Grad students heard from Dr. Peter A. Singer, Special Advisor to the Director General at the World Health Organization (WHO), who discussed his experiences in global health and pathways into this important work. Peter shared his own career story, some strategies for starting a career in global health, as well as his thoughts on key emerging health challenges that need to be addressed today and in the future.
Participants learned about global health and health equity work and Dr. Singer gave some great advice aimed both at grad students who were considering a career in global health and equity, as well as those who might never have considered it before.
About Dr. Peter A. Singer
Dr. Peter A. Singer is Special Advisor to the Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and Assistant Director General of the World Health Organization (external link) (WHO). He supports the Director General in transforming WHO into an organization sharply focused on impact at the country level. During the pandemic, he has been a passionate advocate for vaccine equity.
Before joining WHO as Special Advisor to the Director General, Dr. Peter Singer co-founded two innovative and results-driven organizations, both with tremendous social impact. From 2008-2018 Singer was Chief Executive Officer of Grand Challenges Canada. From 1996-2006 he was Sun Life Financial Chair and Director of the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics. He was also Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto and Senior Scientist at University Health Network.
In 2007, Dr. Singer received the Michael Smith Prize as Canada's Health Researcher of the Year in Population Health and Health Services. In 2011, Singer was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada for his contributions to health research and bioethics and for his dedication to improving the health of people in developing countries. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (where he was also Foreign Secretary), the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, and The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS).
As a researcher, Dr. Singer published over 300 articles, received over $50 million in research grants, and mentored hundreds of students. He studied internal medicine at University of Toronto, medical ethics at University of Chicago, public health at Yale University, and management at Harvard Business School. He has also served his community as Board Chair of Branksome Hall, an internationally minded school for girls.
Twitter handle @PeterASinger
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-singer-9413b918 (external link)