Dr. Jim Kim - New President of Dartmouth

by Alanna Shaikh · 2009-03-02 21:47:00 UTC
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(photo Copyright © WHO/P.Virot February 2005 Pierre Virot)

Jim Kim is going to be president of Dartmouth. That completely floors me. Jim Kim is a giant of global health. He led the WHO in stepping up treatment for HIV, he helped to found Partners in Health, and was a pioneer in researching and treating multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. A lot of us were hoping he'd be the next US Global AIDS Coordinator, but that was always a long-shot. That kind of office never seemed like something that would interest Dr. Kim. Dartmouth makes more sense. He's got strong academic affiliations with big name universities.

And now - Dartmouth. I think it's a sign of the increasing importance of global health. I don't think this would have happened ten years ago. When I first started working in international health, most people had no idea what my work was. They assumed I was assisting in medical evacuations or feeding orphans somewhere. Now, almost everyone thinks of AIDS and Tuberculosis as global issues which need a global response. Which means that being a hero in global health gives you the kind of respect and prestige that leads to presidency of a major university.

It's a good sign, but it's also a loss to the field of global health. Dr. Kim is unlikely to engage in active global health work while at Dartmouth. I am sure he'll remain a vocal advocate for health and equity, but I doubt we'll see him doing anything new. I worked for a university president once; it's not a job that leaves time for side projects.

I wish Dr. Kim the very best of luck in this new role, and I'm interested in seeing what impact Dr. Kim has on Dartmouth. Will the medical school increase its global focus? Will the undergraduate curriculum change?

Alanna Shaikh
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