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Global Health Professor Richard Skolnik Highlights Global Health's "Unfinished Agenda" in Last Lecture
Dr. Richard Skolnik, Adjunct Professor and Lecturer in the Department of Global Health, challenged students to solve the most critical health and development issues while sharing personal reflections on his life, career, and passion for global health at GW’s “Last Lecture” Series on November 3, 2009.
“The unfinished agenda is a large one,” said Skolnik to an audience of about 100 students, faculty, and staff. "Civil conflicts abound…the oppression of women in many countries is beyond imagination…there are appalling problems of ill health and premature death in too many countries. There remain gigantic gaps in this agenda that desperately need filling, and which you can help to fill.”
The “Last Lecture” series is based on the premise, “If you knew this was the last lecture you’d ever give to a captive audience of students, what would you say?”
Through an up-beat and entertaining slideshow, Skolnik reminisced about his life-changing exchange-trip to the Philippines during high-school, reflected on his experiences as a scholar and practitioner of global public health, and shared lessons gleaned from his 25-year career at the World Bank.
“In a globalizing world, you want to be a master of the best international practices. You want to always be able to bring it to the table, even if you work domestically. It is no longer good enough to know what works in only one place,” said Skolnik.
He also shared advice with students on how to succeed in their careers. “Learn as much as you can about languages and cultures,” he said, “And adopt a few mentors even if they don't want to adopt you.”
While highlighting the need of health and development problems plaguing the world’s poor, Skolnik emphasized the importance of work-life balance, sharing that “it is very hard, and you may not sleep much, but it is possible and desirable to have a life outside of work and to enjoy that life with the same enthusiasm you throw into making the world a better place.”
Skolnik concluded by challenging his audience to engage. “I want to suggest that the problems of this unfinished agenda cannot be acceptable to anyone,” he said. “Be whatever you want to be, but set aside some part of your life to help address the unfinished agenda.
The “Last Lecture” Series at GWU is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in the Marvin Center Amphitheater.
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