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A Message on Mental Health from NCGHA Executive Director, Brianna Clarke-Schwelm

Dear NCGHA Community,

What a challenging environment we find ourselves in. We have endured so much of the "unprecedented" and "unfathomable" in recent months, I have to imagine that your exhaustion matches mine. This exhaustion permeates my existence right now, ebbing and flowing in its strength and magnitude, but never quite leaving me to breathe freely. It's ability to fully suffocate me comes in unexpected waves, slamming my heart and mind with melancholy, fear, and uncertainty.

In my personal experience, depression is a cold and isolating experience. When I'm in the thick of it, it is difficult to find the strength to turn to others for warmth and calm. But when I do, their sunshine reminds me that there is another way of being. That on the other side of this, there is light.

But where do you turn when everyone you know is experiencing the same feeling? When no one has sunshine to spare? 

This morning, while connecting with a cherished member of our shared global health community who has faced her fair share of the unprecedented and unfathomable, I was reminded that even now, we can turn to one another. Just her company and solidarity gave me warmth. It was a balm and a reminder that I am not alone.

And so I am writing this rather personal note to you today because I want you to know something that is all too easy to forget: you are not alone.

You are a valued and cherished member of this community and you will always have a place here at the Alliance. 

As you move through this chapter of ups and downs, please know that there are professional resources available to you and you do not have to navigate this alone. Here are a few to consider:

• • 988 is the suicide and crisis hotline. It is completely free, available 24/7, and well worth a call when things get tough.
  • Texting “talk” to 741-741 will also reach a crisis counselor. It is another way to connect with professionals if the phone is not your thing and it is free and available 24/7.
  • Websites like betterhelp.com and psychologytoday.com are helpful resources to identify a professional who can help. Talk therapy has changed my life and I cannot recommend it enough. I know it often comes with an untenable price tag though, which is why the first two options can be great in the near term.

In solidarity,

Brianna Clarke-Schwelm

Executive Director

North Carolina Global Health Alliance

Advocacy News

'Pocket Rescission' of $4.9B in foreign aid money: On Tuesday, the supreme court temporarily halted a lower court's order that the administration spend nearly $5B in congressionally appropriated foreign aid money that it is seeking to cancel. The money would have gone to the United Nations organizations and peacekeeping operations, as well as development assistance and democracy-promotion projects.

This is not good news, but for those of us in North Carolina, it is important to know that NC Senator Thom Tillis has publicly criticized the rescission:

“I’m not criticizing the Article II branch for trying to be as powerful as they can be. I’m pulling for the Article I branch to assert its authority over appropriations,” Tillis said. “I think they overreached. I hope they lose. If they win, I think we should do everything to prevent them from ever being successful and doing a pocket rescission again.” (Rollcall, Sept 9)

Remember: Your voice matters. If you want your Senator to know how you feel about this, let him know.

North Carolina Response to Jobs Crisis: In addition to elevating our sector with our congressional delegation, the NCGHA has spent recent months educating state leaders about the jobs crisis we are already facing.

We know that over 550 North Carolinians lost their jobs as a direct result of USAID cuts. We know that more highly skilled health, science, and global health professionals will experience unexpected unemployment or underemployment in weeks and months to come as a result of further federal cuts. 

North Carolina must act.

We need a robust, coordinated state level response that ensures that our qualified workforce finds new, meaningful employment in our state. We cannot risk losing this talented workforce.

The NCGHA has been networking with state leaders and economic development experts across the state to elevate this message. If you see us at more state level meetings these days, this is why!

Events

IQVIA Webinar

Revolutionizing Pharma: Unlocking the Future of Digital Transformation with AI

Tues, Sept 16 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET | Virtual

Join IQVIA for an inspiring conversation with Tim White, Chief Digital & Technology Officer, U.S., at GSK, as he explores the transformative power of digital technology in the pharmaceutical industry. Once considered conservative and slow-moving, pharma is now embracing innovation at an unprecedented pace. Tim will share firsthand experiences and compelling examples from his career that illustrate this evolution. Read more & register here!

Duke Global Health Institute

Climbing a Thousand Hills: Rebuilding Rwanda's Health System After Genocide

Wed, Sept 17| 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm ET | Hybrid

Following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda, the country faced a national health crisis, with more than 80 percent of its hospitals destroyed and a majority of health professionals lost during the genocide. Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with many stakeholders, implemented comprehensive health-sector reforms to strengthen the public health system, including construction of health facilities to decentralize access to lower levels of care and expand universal health coverage. In this Think Global event, Manasseh Wandera, The Society for Family Health's executive director for Rwanda and South Sudan, will discuss the key steps in restoring healthcare delivery and access in the country, as well as ongoing strategies to expand access to care across the East African region. Read more & register here!

Duke Global Health Institute

A Decade of Zika: Afterlives of an Epidemic, Lessons for Global Health

Thurs, Sept 18 | 8:00 am - 3:10 pm ET | Virtual

Marking a decade since the outbreak that resulted in the births of thousands of severely disabled children, this virtual symposium brings together Brazilian parent-activists, social scientists, and global health experts to discuss the legacies of Zika. This symposium aims to amplify the voices of those most affected by Zika, highlight social science contributions to our understanding of Zika’s human impacts, and foster critical conversations about how global health can address issues of disability and caregiving in the wake of infectious disease outbreaks. Read more & register here!

NC Biotechnology Center - Career Development Center

AI in the Workplace: Enhancing Productivity in Life Sciences

Thurs, Sept 18 | 12:30 am - 2:30 pm ET | RTP, NC

Join in person or virtually for the next Career Development Network program. This presentation provides mid-career life sciences professionals with a comprehensive introduction to artificial intelligence applications in the workplace, focusing on practical implementation strategies and productivity enhancement opportunities. Designed for the Career Development Network audience, including professionals in transition and trainees (graduate students and postdocs), the session addresses the growing expectation for AI literacy in today's competitive job market. Read more & register here!

Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

Poptalks: Reimagining Global Health for Equity

Tues, Sept 23 | 11:45 am ET | Hybrid

At a moment of profound change in global health, join our next PopTalks as Dr. Thoai Ngo (Chair, Columbia PopFam) hosts Dr. Judd Walson (Chair, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health) for a timely conversation on reimagining the global health architecture. Read more & register here!

Duke Global Health Institute

Duke Global Mental Health Conference

Tues, Oct 7 | 8:30 am - 5:00 pm ET | Durham, NC

On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the Duke Center for Global Mental Health will host its 2nd Annual Conference, bringing together faculty, trainees, students, and professionals committed to addressing mental health disparities both locally and globally. Held in honor of World Mental Health Day, this year’s conference will center on the theme: Now More than Ever: Addressing the Global Imperative of Mental Health Equity. Read more & register here!

WomenLift Health PowerUp Workshop

Webinar: Authentic Leadership

Wed, Oct 8 | 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET | Virtual

Are you ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and connection? Join WomenLift Health North America for a PowerUp workshop on Authentic Leadership. Step into a space designed to help you lead with confidence and clarity by grounding yourself in what truly matters to you. Read more & register here!

Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation

2025 Annual Bernstein Event

Wed, Oct 8 | 6:00 pm ET | Chapel Hill, NC

Join FHLI in honoring the legacy of Jim Bernstein, a trailblazer in rural health, and recognizing North Carolina’s dedicated health leaders. The annual Bernstein Event brings together health leaders, policymakers, and community advocates to build connections, celebrate successes, and strategize for a healthier future. Read more & purchase tickets here.

Go Global NC

NC Global Advantage Forum 2025

Thurs, Nov 6 | 11:00 am - 2:00 pm ET | RTP, NC

Join Go Global NC for the NC Global Advantage Forum—a premier gathering of leaders shaping North Carolina’s role in the global economy. From global infrastructure to advanced manufacturing, hear insights from industry experts, government leaders, and international partners. Read more & purchase tickets here.

Don't miss the 2025 North Carolina Global Health Event on Friday, November 14!

You are invited to the NCGHA's 2025 Fall Event

Global Health in Transition

Fri, Nov 14 | 8:30 am - 12:30 pm ET | Durham, NC

Get your tickets today!

Global Health has been thrown into uncertainty. Yet in this moment of transition lies opportunity: the chance to reimagine what comes next.

Join the NCGHA for our reimagined Fall Event: Global Health in Transition.

Students, professionals, and leaders from across our state's global health community will come together to reflect, connect, and chart a new course for the future of global health. Together, we will confront the challenges of the moment and explore the possibilities ahead.

This is a day you won't want to miss.

Register today!

Apply to be a student speaker at our Fall Event

Applications due: Sunday, September 21 at 5:00 pm ET

Apply here

Thank you to our sponsor, RTI International, and host, the NC Biotech Center!

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