Downstate’s Global Health Scholars Release Major Text on International Healthcare Systems
By Office of the President | Nov 18, 2025
Downstate’s School of Public Health strengthened its global footprint with the release
of Health and Healthcare Systems: A Global View, published by Springer on October 31, 2025. Five faculty members contributed chapters
examining health systems in Ghana, Great Britain, Guatemala, China, and Bangladesh,
bringing global insight into Downstate’s classrooms, research, and community partnerships.
Anika Daniels-Osaze, Ed.D., MPH, Associate Dean for Education and Clinical Associate Professor of Health Policy and
Management, co-authored the chapter on Ghana, which focuses on community partnerships,
workforce development, and maternal health. Her work highlights the importance of
building a strong health workforce, a priority shared across Brooklyn. It is supported
by a $1.5M HRSA award that expands scholarships for MPH and DrPH students.
Daniel Ehlke, Ph.D., MA, Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management, authored the chapter on Great
Britain, outlining how the National Health Service responds to demographic, financial,
and policy pressures while striving to strengthen access and equity.
Victor Puac-Polanco, M.D., DrPH, MSCE, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management, contributed to the chapter
on Guatemala, examining how cultural, geographic, and economic factors influence efforts
to expand care in rural and Indigenous communities. His work reinforces Downstate’s
commitment to culturally grounded research and community engagement.
Jia Sun, Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Environmental and Occupational
Health Sciences, co-wrote the chapter on China, exploring prevention, chronic disease
management, and rural health access during rapid modernization, issues also mirrored
in urban centers like New York City.
Sharifa Nasreen, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, co-authored the chapter on
Bangladesh, focusing on maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and
how climate vulnerability influences national health planning.
This publication arrives at a crucial moment, as nations reassess how to enhance health systems and mitigate inequities. Our faculty demonstrate how global insights inform local practice and support care, prevention, and equity across Brooklyn. As the only public academic medical center in the borough, Downstate incorporates these perspectives into community-based training, public health leadership, and research that addresses the needs of diverse and underserved populations.
This collective achievement reflects the School of Public Health’s commitment to equity, leadership development, and scholarship that advance the health of communities in Brooklyn and around the world.
Tags: School of Public Health