Weill Cornell Anesthesiology’s Global Health Initiative marked the start of its second year of educational activity with an auspicious milestone – Cornell University’s Mario Einuadi Center for International Studies awarded the Initiative its first grant award.
With its headquarters at Cornell University’s Ithaca campus, the Mario Einuadi Center for International Studies “organizes, catalyzes, and supports collaborative and interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach programs” across Cornell’s campuses. The Mario Einuadi Center seeks to foster international and comparative perspectives among Cornell learners and teachers, while also supporting programs and centers that connect Cornell with an ever-globalizing world.
Considering the Mario Einuadi Center’s mission and focus, the Anesthesiology Global Health Initiative is a natural fit. Part of the Medical College’s larger initiative in global health, the Global Health Initiative is the Department of Anesthesiology’s effort “to develop globally conscious physicians who can advance the field of international anesthesia,” says Gunisha Kaur, M.D., the Director of the Global Health Initiative. “Our aim is to achieve this through our novel and innovative educational programming,” she notes. Currently, this educational programming consists of a Global Health Elective for Anesthesiology Residents and Faculty, and a Fellowship Program.
The first Global Health Elective was held in Amritsar, Punjab, India during the 2013-14 academic year, and a different group of Weill Cornell Anesthesiology Residents and Faculty returned to Punjab this year. So, the program continues to grow, and the grant from the Mario Einuadi Center will further assist in this process. Eric Brumberger, M.D., Director of the Residency, notes that, “the support provided by this grant will further collaborations that have been built between the Department of Anesthesiology and other clinical divisions at Weill Cornell Medical College, as well as the undergraduate campus.” He also observes that this award offers “a unique opportunity to create programs that, by their cohesive nature, can generate a larger impact.” The Anesthesiology Global Health Initiative looks to increase its impact as it moves forward into its second year and beyond.