---

As the year comes to a close, the Global Health Office looks ahead to a busy 2017.

Activities for the coming year include hosting international delegations, organizing events for alumni and prospective students, and planning future faculty and student exchanges via our network of partner universities in the MSc Global Health program.

Strengthening partnerships with institutions internationally, the Global Health Office signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi this month to begin work focused on training health care providers in the region. Meetings are scheduled for the new year.

Planning is well underway for the 5th Chanchlani Global Health Research Award and Lecture, which will honour Dr. John Ioannidis, world-renowned scientist, meta-researcher, and professor from Stanford University. The award and lecture will take place on February 6, 2017.

The High North Fund Grant between McMaster and University College of Southeast Norway (HSN) promises several new initiatives in 2017. Student exchanges will allow peers to build relationships across different locations, cultures and backgrounds, while faculty exchanges will create opportunities for collaborative research and guest lectureships.

In January, McMaster will launch a new joint global health course with HSN to complement the MSc Global Health program. This unique course has been designed to give voice to global health issues, including mental health, which are specific to Circumpolar populations in Canada and Norway.

Also next month, as the Global Health program kicks off its winter term, McMaster will welcome exchange students from Maastricht University, while McMaster students will spend a term in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Stay tuned for updates in 2017, but in the meantime, enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season!