Lectures and Capacity Building Activities

The Learning Series aims to:

• Engage global and international experts in critical discussions and knowledge sharing;

• Spotlight local initiatives in addressing health disparities; and, 

• Inspire collective action to build a movement to promote health equity.

In recent years,  PHE has conducted three learning series with the following themes:

• 1st session: Equity in UHC: Bridging the Gaps and Reaching All

• 2nd session: Building Capacity for Health Equity: Global Lessons and Local Innovations

• 3rd session: Health Equity in Focus: Lessons from early inmplementation of UHC in selected regions

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Workshop is an initiative of the Program for Health Equity of the UP College of Public Health, conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). It aims to strengthen the capacity of researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to utilize GBD tools, data, and outputs in analyzing health trends, identifying priorities, and informing evidence-based decision-making. The workshop also provides an avenue to assess the quality and types of data used in burden of disease estimation, while fostering collaboration and engagement within a broader global network of health researchers and practitioners.

In recent years, the GBD Workshop has been conducted in two installments, each building on the previous to deepen participants’ understanding and application of GBD. The first workshop focused on providing foundational knowledge on the GBD framework and the tools developed by IHME, equipping participants with a baseline understanding of how health estimates are generated and interpreted.

The second workshop expanded on this foundation by focusing on more technical aspects, including estimation methods and the use of GBD visualization tools (viz tools) to explore health patterns and trends. This installment was conducted in collaboration with IHME and the Department of Health Epidemiology Bureau (DOH EB), further strengthening national engagement. The workshop also served as a precursor to the launch of the Philippine Health Atlas, reinforcing the role of GBD data in supporting subnational analysis and evidence-informed health planning.

The Dr. Stephen Zuellig Memorial Public Health Lecture, co-organized with the Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance (DSZPHLG), serves as a flagship annual platform of the UP College of Public Health to advance discourse on leadership, governance, and health equity in achieving Universal Health Care (UHC). 

As highlighted in the inaugural lecture in 2023, the series underscores the critical role of strong leadership and multisectoral collaboration in addressing health inequities and strengthening health systems. Building on this foundation, the lecture series continues to bring together global and national leaders to share lessons, inspire action, and shape policy-relevant dialogue. To date, the annual lectures have included: 

• 2023 – Launch of the Program for Health Equity and the Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance, focusing on advancing UHC and health equity; 

• 2024 – No One Left Behind: The Leadership Journey of Thailand’s Rural Doctors Movement towards Universal Health Care, highlighting grassroots leadership and community-driven health reforms; and 

• 2025 – The Role of Leadership in Advancing One Health Framework: Intersecting Human, Animal, and Environmental Health, emphasizing integrated and systems-based approaches to health.