Dear SPH Community, 

I am pleased to announce that Omar Galárraga, Ph.D., has been selected as the next director of the International Health Institute (IHI), effective July 1, 2024. He will succeed Mark Lurie. Mark has led the IHI as interim director for the last three years. His guidance through and since the pandemic has been invaluable, allowing us time to evaluate, plan, and act thoughtfully and deliberately in identifying the next permanent Director of the Institute. Thank you, Mark, for your leadership.

Omar has been a core faculty member of the IHI since 2010 when he joined Brown University as an Assistant Professor in the medical school. In 2013, when the School of Public Health was formed, he became part of the faculty at SPH and continued his work with the IHI, among many other efforts throughout the school. Today, he is a Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice and the Director of the doctoral program in Health Services Research.  

A skilled health economist and researcher, Omar’s work clearly demonstrates the ability of behavioral economics to improve health outcomes. He has worked in a variety of places, including Ecuador, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, South Africa, and the U.S., in collaboration with community and academic partners. With his experience and perspective, I have no doubt that Omar will be a strong director, leading the IHI to develop, promote and coordinate the global health activities of our faculty and students committed to global community engagement.

Please join me in congratulating Omar for his new role at the International Health Institute.

Sincerely,