On the afternoon of Thursday, March 27, a team from School of Global Health, Chinese Centre for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SGH), led by Prof Xiao-Nong Zhou, Vice Dean of SGH, visited the Center for Global Health Equity (CGHE) , New York University Shanghai. Hosted by Prof. Brain J. Hall, Director of CGHE, a network meeting was held in CGHE to brought together leading scholars and researchers to exchange insights, explore collaborations, and advance the shared mission of global health equity.
This dialogue was highlighted by two keynote presentations:
- Professor Xiao-Nong Zhou (Vice Dean and Professor, SGH), who provided a Five-Year Review and Outlook, reflecting on achievements and strategic directions for the future.
- Professor Brian J. Hall (Director and Professor, CGHE), who outlined CGHE’s 2025 Overview and Key Research Directions, emphasizing key focus areas in global health initiatives.
Representing SGH, Professor Xinyu Feng (Associate Professor of Vector-borne Disease, SHSMU), Professor Lefei Han (Assistant Professor of Global Health and One Health, SHSMU), Professor Kokouvi Kassegne (Assistant Professor of Parasitology, SHSMU), Dr. Peter Andrus (Postdoctoral Fellow), Ms. Wei Ding (Programme Officer, Global Health Center, NIPD, China CDC), and Ms. Xuechen Yang (Programme Officer, SHSMU) attended the meeting.
Representing CGHE, Professor Katie Aafjes-van Doorn (Area Head of Social Sciences, Associate Professor of Psychology, NYU Shanghai), Professor Jin Han (Assistant Professor of Global Public Health, NYU Shanghai), Professor Etienne Jaime (Assistant Professor of Practice in Global Public Health, NYU Shanghai), and Dr. Tim Sumerlin (Postdoctoral Fellow) and Siri Shetty (Student Ambassador) attended the meeting.
Through meaningful discussions, faculty members, researchers, and trainees from both institutions shared perspectives on global health research, teaching, and policy, identifying opportunities to integrate resources and build impactful collaborations.
(All attendees were discussing future collaborations together)
Key Highlights from the Meeting
Professor Xiao-Nong Zhou - SJTU: Five-Year Review and Outlook
(Professor Xiao-Nong Zhou – SJTU)
Professor Xiao-Nong Zhou is a leading expert in the research and control of parasitic diseases, with over 40 years’ experience by implementation of One Health approaches. In particularly, his interests have been on research of spatial epidemiology on parasitic diseases leading to innovative strategy to support national control programme. In his address, he underscored the School of Global Health’s major accomplishments, particularly in developing a world-class education system that integrates theory with practice, fostering innovation in research through interdisciplinary collaboration, and establishing extensive international partnerships that enhance the School’s global reach. He emphasized the importance of aligning global health initiatives with government policy and national clinical research efforts while ensuring that community engagement remains at the core of these strategies. Highlighting the school’s commitment to faculty development and sustainable capacity building in public health, he spoke about the urgency of cultivating a new generation of health professionals equipped to navigate the challenges of an increasingly interconnected and fast-changing world.
Professor Brian J. Hall – CGHE: 2025 Overview and Key Research Directions,
(Professor Brian J. Hall – CGHE)
CGHE’s director Professor Brian J. Hall is a leading expert in global public health in areas including psychiatric epidemiology, refugee and migrant health, digital mental health innovations, and the social determinants of health and wellbeing. Professor Hall presented CGHE’s key research priorities, which center on Psychiatric Epidemiology & Urban and Environmental Health, Global Mental Health, and Migrant Health. He elaborated on how CGHE integrates Design Thinking, Health Equity, Cultural Humility, and Lifecourse Perspectives into its research framework, ensuring that its work is both methodologically rigorous and socially impactful. Throughout his speech, he highlighted the significant role that students play in contributing to global health research, citing examples such as student Maanyaa Jain’s participation in the 2025 WHO 2nd Annual Conference, Former student Siyao WU’s publication in Social Psychiatric and Psychiatric Epidemiology (now at Columbia University) and former Johns Hopkins Master Student visiting scholar Yuming Liu’s (Now a global health PhD student at Peking University) publication in The Lancet. These achievements exemplify CGHE’s commitment to fostering student engagement in cutting-edge research and global health initiatives. Concluding his presentation, Professor Hall announced his appointment as the Editor-in-Chief of Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, a role that further solidifies CGHE and NYU Shanghai’s position as a global hub for excellence in mental health research and knowledge dissemination.
Exploring Future Collaborations
Following the keynote presentations, faculty members and researchers from both institutions engaged in an in-depth discussion on potential areas for collaboration. The conversation centered on research concerning global migrant populations in Mainland China, academic pathways for students interested in global health, and strengthening faculty and student partnerships through joint initiatives. These discussions fostered a deeper understanding of shared expertise and institutional priorities, paving the way for meaningful collaboration.
A highlight of the meeting was the participation of EmpowerHealth student volunteer Siri Shetty, a freshman who shared her insights on migrant health and climate change. Her well-articulated concerns about migrants’ perceived discrimination in healthcare sparked thoughtful dialogue among faculty members. Recognizing the importance of her perspective, faculty members suggested further research meetings to discuss the issue with her in greater depth. Her engagement exemplifies the growing role of students in shaping global health conversations and contributing to impactful academic research.
(All attendees – network meeting)
Closing & Campus Tour
(Siri Shetty and guests - Campus tour)
Following the enriching discussions, the meeting concluded with a campus tour led by Student Ambassador Siri Shetty, offering an engaging and immersive experience for our guests. This network meeting marked a significant step in strengthening the connection between the School of Global Health (SGH) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Center for Global Health Equity (CGHE) at NYU Shanghai. The partnerships initiated during this meeting will continue to drive meaningful advancements in global health research and education, bridging expertise and resources both within China and on the international stage.