Member of U.S. Army Veterinary Corps Will Speak on Global Health Engagement on Jan. 31

Media Contact: Tonya B. Hudson, 254-710-4656
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WACO, Texas (Jan. 26, 2018) — Lt. Col. Matthew A. Levine, DVM, MPH, MS, U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, will speak on “Global Health Engagement: How and why the US military leverages its medical capabilities to promote stability and security” Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 4 p.m. in Room A.108 of the Baylor Sciences Building, 101 Bagby Ave.

According to Lt. Col. Levine, recent medical crises have demonstrated the connection between health and security issues on a grand scale.

“The U.S. response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa highlighted the link between human health and national security,” Lt. Col. Levine said. “Operation United Assistance, as it came to be called, demonstrated the power of global health activities to support America’s national defense, diplomatic and developmental objectives. In light of this, global health is increasingly viewed as a strategic U.S. interest, capable of addressing the root causes of terrorism and instability.”

Bryan Brooks, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Biomedical Studies in Baylor’s College of Arts and Sciences, stressed the timeliness of such discussions.

“Clean water, safe food and healthy communities are often expected in the USA, but are routinely stressed in our backyard and on the global stage,” Brooks said. “Engaging global health challenges increasingly requires transdisciplinary partnerships among government, academic and private sectors.”

Partnerships are key to improved outcomes.

“The U.S. military contributes to this effort by leveraging its medical capabilities as a means to build partner capacity, improve health outcomes and set the conditions for regional stability and security,” Lt. Col. Levine said. “Coined Global Health Engagements (GHEs), these activities occur across the world and include international disaster response, humanitarian assistance and the exchanges of expertise.”

This event is presented by the Environmental Health Science Program, the College of Arts and Sciences and the VPR Colloquium Series.

“This will be a timely and informational lecture. Any student studying pre-health majors or interested in global affairs should be interested. We look forward to hearing Lt. Col. Levine’s sage perspectives,” Brooks said.

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