Emerging leaders unite across disciplines and regions to advance brain health equity
To protect the world’s population from threats to brain health, a distinguished cohort of emerging leaders has aligned with a worldwide initiative: the 2023–24 Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health at Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI)
Hailing from 19 countries spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America—and various disciplines such as the arts, medicine, cognitive science and public health—the 28 fellows reflect a diverse range of geographies, expertise and life experiences.
Meet the 2023-24 Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health
"GBHI extends a warm welcome to this accomplished and globally diverse cohort of emerging leaders committed to global brain health equity," said Brian Lawlor, Site Director, GBHI, Trinity College Dublin (Trinity).
The incoming cohort bolsters the geographic reach of the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program to include five new countries: Ghana, Mauritius, Poland, Somalia (Somaliland) and Zambia. The program now totals 232 fellows—current and alumni—from 53 countries across the globe.
"As more Atlantic Fellows join from across regions of the Global South, this program has now evolved into a global movement with profound impact," said Victor Valcour, Site Director, GBHI, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Among the 28 newly inducted fellows, roughly one-third are from Latin America and the Caribbean, with another third from Africa.
GBHI embraces a values-based interdisciplinary approach using science, art and creativity to advance our understanding of brain health and dementia. Through their work, Atlantic Fellows address local and global inequities in brain health and dementia by promoting education, affecting policy change, and developing evidence-based interventions, with the goal of improving the lives of people with dementia.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2021 there were more than 55 million people living with dementia worldwide, with over 60% living in low- and middle-income countries. Dementia is rooted in socio-economic inequities and driven by the same social determinants that drive physical health problems. There is no known prevention, cure, or effective treatment for dementia; however, up to 40% of cases could potentially be prevented by public health and lifestyle interventions.
Since 2016, the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health program has trained a global community of emerging interprofessional leaders in brain health and dementia prevention through its 12-month residential program at both its founding sites at UCSF and Trinity. On completion of their training, fellows join a lifelong catalytic community of seven Atlantic Fellows programs working to advance fairer, healthier and more inclusive societies.
Applications for 2024–25 cohort of Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health are open until September 25, 2023. Learn more and apply today..
