About the Tracks

Humanitarian Crises, Refugees, and Human Rights Track

PUBPOL 860.01

Course explores how the international community can better respond to humanitarian crises such as the influx of refugees in Europe, HIV-AIDS in Africa, or ongoing civil conflict in countries such as Sudan. Students examine the importance of cooperation and collaboration on a global scale by organizations such as:

• the International Red Cross
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees
• Médecins sans Frontières (MSF)
• development organizations.

The course is led by Amy E. Hepburn (Duke MPP'01), a policy professional who has researched, published, and programmed extensively on issues affecting children in complex humanitarian emergencies,  including armed conflict and HIV/AIDS in the Balkans, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Republic of Georgia. Her clients include international NGOs, the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees in Geneva, the United States Department of State, and the United States Agency for International Development.

Global Health Track

PUBPOL 860.03

Program Overview 

From year to year, the course offering varies, often highlighting current policy issues. In the past, course participants have heard from senior officials from a wide range of Geneva-based organizations engaged in global health, including:

• the WHO’s Tobacco-Free Initiative and World Alliance for Patient Safety to the Polio Eradication Initiative
• the WHO’s Department of Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property.

Participants visit nine to ten different leading global health organizations in Geneva. Past site visits have included:

• Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative
• Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
• Médecins sans Frontières
• UNAIDS.

The course is directed by Dr. Gavin Yamey, a professor of the Duke Global Health Institute and Director of the Center for Policy Impact in Global Health.