Great Decision Lecture Series “The World Health Organization’s Role in a Global Pandemic”

Event Date:
February 17, 2021 – 6:30 PM to February 18, 2021 – 7:59 PM

The World Health Organization’s Role in a Global Pandemic

Michael Thompson, DrPH, Associate Professor and Associate Chair,
Department Public Health Sciences, UNC Charlotte

The Office of International Programs at UNC Charlotte, in collaboration with Charlotte Country Day School, International House of Charlotte, and the World Affairs Council of Charlotte, annually coordinate the Great Decisions lecture series. The lecture series is an opportunity for citizens to meet, discuss and learn about some of the issues facing our world. Each week a local expert from nearby colleges and universities provide an additional perspective on the topic of interest and answers questions regarding the information presented in the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions Briefing Book and through the lecture.

Michael Thompson, DrPH, Associate Professor and Associate Chain in the Department of Public Health Sciences at UNC Charlotte will discuss both his research and speak to Stephanie Pezard’s article “Struggles Over the Melting Arctic” proposing that the “COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the political climate during which it occurred, has laid bare the fragility of our global health “honor system,” shortcomings whose deadly consequences we now measure in the millions. While addressing the historical context of global efforts during pandemics, focusing on the World Health Organization (WHO) and examine the World Health Organization’s mission and structure and explore the structural and political challenges it faces.”

All lectures will be held virtually. For more information on the series, including online registration please visit the Great Decisions webpage and or contact the Office of Global Education and Engagement at globaleducation@uncc.edu or 704-687-7755.