How UM researchers are partnering with communities and governments worldwide to drive lasting public health change.
From Manitoba to India, Kenya, and beyond, Marissa Becker explores how locally driven partnerships are transforming global public health. She shares the lessons, challenges, and measurable impacts behind programs that have reached millions and saved thousands of lives.
What does it take to turn research into life-saving change for millions? Host Michael Benarroch speaks with Dr. Marissa Becker—physician, researcher and executive director of the University of Manitoba’s Institute for Global Public Health—about the institute’s extraordinary global impact, from supporting programs that reach 6.5 million pregnant women annually in India to strengthening public health in Kenya. Tracing HIV prevention work from South India to Kenya, Pakistan, and Nigeria, she emphasizes community empowerment alongside biomedical prevention. Becker speaks of the urgent need to support community-led health efforts both globally and locally, arguing that meaningful research with marginalized communities starts with listening and responding to community priorities.
Professor, infectious diseases physician and researcher at the University of Manitoba, College of Community and Global Health, Max Rady College of Medicine.
Executive director at the Institute for Global Public Health, providing leadership to programs in India focused on maternal, child health and health systems strengthening.
Uses a program science framework for her research in Manitoba, India, Kenya and Ukraine.
Research focuses on understanding HIV and other infectious disease risk, vulnerability and outcomes among marginalized populations, with a specific focus on adolescent girls, young women and female sex workers.
Adrenaline Rush by Will Bonness, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Music.
What’s the Big Idea? is an award-winning podcast hosted by University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch. Each episode features conversations with big thinkers from the UM community who are contributing to the cultural, social, and economic well-being of people everywhere. It is produced by the University of Manitoba in partnership with Everything Podcasts.
Research at the University of Manitoba is driven by curiosity and made possible through partnership and philanthropy. If this conversation sparked your curiosity, we’d love to connect you with opportunities to support world-class research and discovery at UM. Learn more or get in touch today.
Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Help us spread the big ideas from the UM community.
UM is home to researchers and scholars who respond to emerging issues and lead innovation in our province and around the world. Creating knowledge that matters is one of the strategic themes you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.
Gates Foundation funding is helping UM and partners strengthen maternal and newborn care across Uttar Pradesh, India
A leading AI researcher and computer scientist, David Gerhard explores the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.
Groundbreaking research compares treatment access and health spending across 85 countries
Acclaimed UM researcher and alum James Blanchard shares his journey in global public health.
