The USF College of Public Health鈥檚 (COPH) recently joined global leaders in public health at the first-ever World Health Organization forum for Collaborating Centers in Lyon, France.
Hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the forum convened more than 800 representatives from WHO Collaborating Centers worldwide. These centers provide scientific and technical expertise to support WHO programs and initiatives aimed at advancing global health.
The sign for the WHO Global Forum. (Photo courtesy of Mahmooda Khaliq Pasha)
Pasha, associate professor in the , attended on behalf of , where she engaged with international partners to explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation in advancing the WHO鈥檚 鈥淗ealth for All鈥 agenda.
鈥淭he forum created a unique space to connect with centers across regions and disciplines,鈥 Pasha said. 鈥淚t highlighted how our collective work can complement one another to address complex public health challenges.鈥
Dr. Mahmooda Khaliq Pasha presents USF WHO CC on Social Marketing and Social Change during the poster session at the Global Forum. (Photo courtesy of Mahmooda Khaliq Pasha)
During the event, Pasha presented the work of the USF-based center in a poster session, showcasing efforts to strengthen global capacity in behavior-change program design. One key initiative is an interactive, multi-course social marketing curriculum developed for the Pan American Health Organization鈥檚 Virtual Campus for Public Health, which has reached more than 20,000 public health professionals worldwide and continues to enroll approximately 1,000 new learners each month.
The center has also developed a practical guide for applying social marketing strategies to public health challenges, using salt reduction as a case study. The resource incorporates lessons learned from 14 country teams and will be formally introduced during an upcoming Salt Awareness Week webinar hosted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Pasha is scheduled to present this work during the PAHO event, further extending the reach of USF鈥檚 contributions to global health practice.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus addressing WHO CC Directors at the opening reception. (Photo courtesy of Mahmooda Khaliq Pasha)
Participation in the forum underscored the growing importance of behavioral science and social marketing in addressing noncommunicable diseases and improving population health outcomes.
鈥淩epresenting our WHO Collaborating Center was an honor,鈥 Pasha said. 鈥淥ur presence at the forum demonstrates the critical role USF plays as a technical partner to the WHO in advancing public health through evidence-based behavioral strategies.鈥