June 2021 • DALLAS MEDICAL JOURNAL 5
D C M S E V P / C E O
The COVID-19 pandemic has been
many things, and while we spend
a majority of our time in the United
States evaluating the outbreak,
implementing control measures, and now
advancing vaccine administration, we must
remember that this novel virus has been
a true global phenomenon. Sadly, if we
look to the recent surge in India we can
see that the devastating effects of the
pandemic are truly global and unstable.
Aside from COVID-19, global health
has been an important development in
looking at population health worldwide, as
opposed to the health of individuals. In
doing so, we ensure that threats to human
health and national security are identified
and mitigated.
Global health is not one-dimensional
and takes into consideration several factors
that influence the health status of
people worldwide. The Office of Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion identifies
diet and physical fitness, lack of health
care treatment access, exposure to toxic
substances, and compliance with health
and safety regulations as a few examples
of conditions that affect global health.
By looking at the totality of a community’s
personal, social, economic, and environmental
determinants, health experts
can then promote preventive messages to
help minimize the effects of disease. This
in turn leads to greater personal and community
resilience, national security, and a
stronger economy.
In this edition of DMJ, we will take a
closer look at some local examples of physicians
and programs that are having an
impact on global health. We are fortunate
that the Dallas and North Texas area is a
thriving location for innovation and health
care systems design where incubator
projects can take shape and hopefully one
day have a tremendous impact on global
health worldwide. DMJ
Jon R. Roth, MS, CAE
DCMS EVP/CEO
COVID-19: Uniting
Global Health Care
Jon R. Roth, MS, CAE