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2021 amwho international conference
refugee & Migrant Health
promoting access, quality, & reform
gillings school of global public health • april 18-19, 2021
AMWHO 2020 COVID-19 UPDATE:
Dear delegates and observers,
We hope that you all are well, healthy, and safe. Please carefully read the email below for an important update regarding your registration for the 2020 AMWHO International Conference. To provide additional flexibility and streamline the process, we are providing participants with three options to modify their registration.
* for those who received a delegation discount, you will be able to keep this discounted price for the rescheduled conference even if your delegation drops below 8 people.
Please complete this form by 11:59PM on Friday, April 3rd. If you have any further questions, please contact [email protected].
We will begin processing requests after this form has closed. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we’re all learning how to adapt and respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Thank you,
UNC AMWHO Executive Team
Dear delegates and observers,
We hope that you all are well, healthy, and safe. Please carefully read the email below for an important update regarding your registration for the 2020 AMWHO International Conference. To provide additional flexibility and streamline the process, we are providing participants with three options to modify their registration.
- Refund: participants will receive a full refund for their registration and t-shirt payment (if applicable) to the credit card used at the time of registration. If you registered as part of a delegation, you will need to get a refund from your delegation leader.
- Defer: if you intend to come to the rescheduled conference, you may defer your registration and t-shirt payment (if applicable) to the postponed date in the fall. You will be eligible for the early registration price and will be refunded the difference, if applicable, once the conference has been rescheduled.* We will provide additional updates as they become available. Those who choose to defer may also, if needed, request a refund at any time until the refund deadline of the next conference by emailing [email protected].
- Donate: participants may donate their registration and t-shirt payment (if applicable) to UNC AMWHO and the AMWHO, Inc. nonprofit to offset some of the nonrefundable conference expenses that were incurred.
* for those who received a delegation discount, you will be able to keep this discounted price for the rescheduled conference even if your delegation drops below 8 people.
Please complete this form by 11:59PM on Friday, April 3rd. If you have any further questions, please contact [email protected].
We will begin processing requests after this form has closed. We appreciate your patience and flexibility as we’re all learning how to adapt and respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Thank you,
UNC AMWHO Executive Team
what is amwho? |
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AMWHO is an authentic simulation of the World Health Assembly, the sole decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO). At the AMWHO International Conference, graduate and undergraduate participants will assume the roles of WHO ambassadors, non-governmental organization members, media correspondents, or industry representatives.
Participants will engage in debates and discussion surrounding our theme for this year: Refugee and Migrant Health: Promoting Access, Quality, and Reform. Through collaboration, students will craft approaches to address our world’s pressing public health challenges and draft a final resolution to send to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
Throughout the weekend, students will have access to renowned professors from the Gillings School of Global Public Health and public health professionals from the Triangle. Students will hear from and talk to these guest speakers at the banquet, opening and closing ceremonies, and lunch and learn event.
Participants will engage in debates and discussion surrounding our theme for this year: Refugee and Migrant Health: Promoting Access, Quality, and Reform. Through collaboration, students will craft approaches to address our world’s pressing public health challenges and draft a final resolution to send to the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
Throughout the weekend, students will have access to renowned professors from the Gillings School of Global Public Health and public health professionals from the Triangle. Students will hear from and talk to these guest speakers at the banquet, opening and closing ceremonies, and lunch and learn event.
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What is model-who?
concept
Model-WHO is a conference simulation of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the annual global health policy making forum of the World Health Organization (WHO). Students who register for AMWHO conferences are assigned either a WHO Ambassador, NGO Representative, Pharmaceutical Company, or Media Correspondent position, and must represent their role accurately throughout the course of the three-day conference weekend.
Delegates are split into five regional blocks: African Region (AFRO), Americas Region (AMRO), Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO), European Region (EURO), and Western Pacific & Southeast Asian Region (WPRO/SEARO). Prior to the conference, delegates research their position’s stance on the global health policy theme, and create resolutions with fellow participants. On the last day, all regions convene to debate their completed resolutions, emulating the true simulation of the WHA.WHO AMBASSADORS
A WHO Ambassador is an individual representing a diplomat to one of the 193 Member States to the World Health Organization. Ambassadors have full voting rights within the conference, with a sole goal to pursue their nation’s health interests in the Assembly. These delegates are expected to conduct detailed, in-depth research prior to the conference on their nation’s position with respect to the conference theme, their allies and enemies, and how their nation would react to different proposals. Their main objective is to use the skills of negotiation and diplomacy to create sound, realistic, and effective resolutions with fellow delegates, who very well may hold differing opinions.NGO Representatives
Delegates representing an NGO must embody the ideals, motives, and objectives of their organization. As an NGO Representative, they will receive a personalized schedule during the conference that allows them to rotate among all regional rooms, and debate with any WHO Ambassador. They must understand all resolutions being formed, with a primary focus in ensuring that each policy holds the ideals of their organization. Ultimately, these delegates provide seals of approval, or written acceptances of a resolution, before all resolutions head to the final plenary. They do not have voting rights, but are able to formally debate.media correspondents
Media Correspondents are non-voting delegates that hold a unique role in the AMWHO International Conference. They perform research prior to the conference on their company views and biases around the conference theme, but their primary objective is to capture the news and highlights of the conference through video and blog form. They aim to provide news in the same journalistic manner of the company that they represent. Thus, these delegates must be well-versed in how to provide the news in respectful, but accurate way. Media Correspondents will receive assistance in capturing stories, conducting interviews with the voting and non-voting delegates, and presenting the exciting and often controversial happenings in other regional blocks.industry representatives
Industry Representatives, also non-voting delegates, represent their industries in varied ways as it relates to the conference theme. Still, these players are critical to achieving partnerships with WHO Ambassadors, NGO Representatives, and Pharmaceutical Companies, and thus delegates must be well-researched on their company and its core values as it relates to the theme.
registration information |
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Registration is quick and easy!
The registration fee includes delegate materials, most meals and snacks (two breakfasts, two lunches, and a banquet dinner), presentations from distinguished professors and guest speakers, and access to all conference events. At this time, please register ONLY if you are a current undergraduate or graduate student. A limited number of high school students will be able to apply to attend the conference at a later date (see below).
The registration fee includes delegate materials, most meals and snacks (two breakfasts, two lunches, and a banquet dinner), presentations from distinguished professors and guest speakers, and access to all conference events. At this time, please register ONLY if you are a current undergraduate or graduate student. A limited number of high school students will be able to apply to attend the conference at a later date (see below).
- Early Registration is $60 by Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- Regular Registration is $70 by Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- Late Registration is $80 by Wednesday, March 25th, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- Observer Registration is $60 by Wednesday, March 25th, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- University delegation members receive $20 discount ($50 registration fee) by Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
DELEGATION DISCOUNT DETAILS
Students who attend as part of a university delegation of at least 8 attendees will receive a $20 discount ($50 registration fee) by Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at 11:45 pm. If your university does not have an established AMWHO chapter, the university delegation discount still applies to delegations of at least 8 attendees from the same university. Contact your AMWHO chapter president or delegation leader to register in advance before our deadline. Active UNC AMWHO members are also eligible for the discount.
To receive the delegation discount:
For additional delegation members after purchase, please contact [email protected]. We will not accept additional delegation members after Sunday, March 25th, 2020 at 11:45 pm. Please note that delegation discount registration fees are non-refundable, and cancellation policies do not apply.
For delegation discount questions/concerns, please contact [email protected].
To receive the delegation discount:
- Your chapter president or delegation leader must purchase at least 8 'Delegation Discount' tickets via our registration platform by Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at 11:45 pm. This registration form will require basic information of each delegation member (name, email, phone number, university/school name, and registration type).
- After your chapter president or delegation leader purchases at least 8 'Delegation Discount' tickets, they will receive a confirmation email that states that the registration fee has been paid almost immediately after purchase. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your spam/junk folder or contact [email protected].
- Within 5 business days after purchase, your chapter president or delegation leader will receive an email from [email protected] with unique discount codes for each delegation member. Our unique discount codes will waive the registration fee payment. Each discount code is only redeemable once.
- Each delegation member can register through 'Early Registration', 'Regular Registration', or 'Observer Registration' depending on the date of payment and registration type with their unique discount code. Delegation members must register by the end of regular registration on Sunday, March 1st, 2020 by 11:45 pm.
For additional delegation members after purchase, please contact [email protected]. We will not accept additional delegation members after Sunday, March 25th, 2020 at 11:45 pm. Please note that delegation discount registration fees are non-refundable, and cancellation policies do not apply.
For delegation discount questions/concerns, please contact [email protected].
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations prior to the following deadlines may receive a full or partial registration fee refund:
For cancellations or cancellation policy questions/concerns, please contact [email protected].
- Fully refundable by Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- 25% refundable by Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- Non-refundable after Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at 11:46 pm.
For cancellations or cancellation policy questions/concerns, please contact [email protected].
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
The AMWHO international conference strives to be an authentic replication of the World Health Assembly. To ensure this, we endeavor to create an environment where undergraduate and graduate level debate and nuanced discussions can occur. Thus, to be eligible for attendance, high school students must complete a brief application (including a letter of recommendation) and will be notified if they are selected for attendance. This application is due by Sunday, February 16th, 2020. You will be notified by Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 on your acceptance and eligibility for the delegation discount.
If the registration form does not load, please click here.
directors' Letter |
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Dear Delegates and Colleagues,
We are thrilled to welcome you to the 2021 AMWHO International Conference hosted by UNC Chapel Hill on April 17 and 18, 2020. Our university is proud to be the origin of AMWHO when it began in 2014, and we have been privileged to host multiple international, regional, and summit conferences. This year, we have seen the importance of global health governance and are inspired by all of your advocacy, scholarship and leadership. We hope that the international conference continues to foster AMWHO's purpose of bringing together students of all backgrounds to discuss global health issues and collaborate to draft policy resolutions, similar to the World Health Assembly itself. We are honored to be Executive Co-directors for this outstanding and unique conference experience in which delegates from around the world will feel empowered as drivers of transformation in the global health policy realm. Our goal is to create a virtual immersive experience where participants will have the opportunity to think critically about stakeholders and social, cultural, political, and economic factors that impact health issues. Participants will not only have the opportunity to have meaningful discussions with each other, but also with professionals who are experts in the public health field. By the end of the conference, delegates will have a more holistic understanding of the complexity of global health issues as well as the knowledge and skills to address these problems with more effective policy. We are excited to announce that the theme for the 2021 AMWHO International Conference is Refugee and Migrant Health Amidst the COVID-19 : Promoting Access, Quality, and Reform. Considering the sheer number of refugees and migrants at this time and their unique healthcare needs, this theme is highly relevant for every nation and the delegates that represent them. Delegates can represent either a nation, media organization, non-governmental organization, or a private corporation. These roles provide the diverse perspectives that stakeholders have to offer and encourages delegates to create more innovative solutions. Lastly, we would like to acknowledge the UNC AMWHO Executive Board and Conference Board. This conference would not be possible without their dedication and hard work. Their passion for public health and AMWHO truly motivates us to create the best conference experience possible. Benjamin Franklin said "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." This truly embodies the mission of our work and leads us to invite you to participate in the 2020 AMWHO International Conference! Sincerely,
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Llana Abela
Executive Co-Director 
Manisha Dubey
Executive Co-Director |
theme introduction |
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(Click on the image to the left to view the theme brief for the 2020 AMWHO International Conference.)
The theme brief gives delegates an overview of the global health challenge that will be discussed and debated over the course of the conference. It includes subthemes that break-down the intricacies of the problem and provides case studies that describe how countries in different regions of the world have been affected. Delegates may use the theme brief as a resource to write their position paper.
The theme of this conference was developed by the theme director, Danica Dy. Danica is a senior majoring in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Medicine, Literature and Culture. Last summer, she studied public health abroad in Singapore and attended the North American Conference on Refugee Health in her hometown, Toronto. She is passionate about mental health, especially in the context of refugee and migrant health. |
TENTATIVE conference schedule |
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FRIDAY | APRIL 3, 2020
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM
CHECK-IN Delegates will arrive and receive materials. Medical Biomolecular Research Building Lobby 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
OPENING CEREMONIES The UNC AMWHO Executive Board will kick off the weekend with a theme discussion, brief overview of the conference, and a welcome from a distinguished professor of the Gillings School of Global Public Health. MBRB Auditorium G202 1:15 PM - 3:45 PM
COMMITTEE SESSION I Delegates will disperse into their respective regional committee rooms, led by their regional Dais, to enter debate on the conference theme. Snacks and coffee will be provided. Designated Committee Rooms 4:00-4:45 PM
PRESS CONFERENCE After having rotated among all the regional committees, NGO and Industry Representatives will present on their mission and focus. Media Correspondents will provide a news report. MBRB Auditorium G202 5:00 - 6:00 PM
COMMITTEE SESSION II Joan Gillings Auditorium 6:15 - 7:30 PM
NETWORKING NIGHT/ CHAPTER SUMMIT Delegates will network and mingle with other conference attendees and the UNC AMWHO Executive Board. Light snacks and drinks will be provided. |
SATURDAY | APRIL 4, 2020
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
BREAKFAST & LATE CHECK-IN Delegates will arrive at the Gillings School of Global Public Health for continental breakfast and coffee. Any late arrivals may check in at this time. Michael Hooker Research Center Atrium 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM
COMMITTEE SESSION III Delegates will return to their regional committee room from the day before to continue debate. Snacks and coffee will be provided. Designated Committee Rooms 10:00 AM - 11:30AM
SERVICE LEARNING EVENT In partnership with a non-profit organization, the service learning event is new to the conference schedule this year. Delegates will engage in a quick presentation and a service learning activity. Designated Committee Rooms 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
LUNCH AND LEARN Delegates will have the opportunity to network and learn from distinguished local leaders in global health and nutrition--speakers include professors from local universities, startup founders, researchers, and representatives of local nonprofit organizations. Lunch is provided. Designated Committee Rooms 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM
LUNCH & LEARN Delegates will have the opportunity to network and learn from distinguished local leaders in global health and nutrition--speakers include professors from local universities, startup founders, researchers, and representatives of local nonprofit organizations. Lunch is provided. Michael Hooker Research Center Atrium 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM
COMMITTEE SESSION IV Delegates will return to their regional committee room from the day before to continue debate. Snacks and coffee will be provided. Designated Committee Rooms 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
PRESS CONFERENCE After having rotated among all the regional committees, Media Correspondent delegates will ask pressing questions to certain WHO Ambassadors and NGO Representatives. Joan Gillings Auditorium 4:15 PM - 6:00 PM
COMMITTEE SESSION V Delegates will return to their regional committee room from the day before to continue debate. Snacks and coffee will be provided. Designated Committee Rooms 6:15 PM - 8:30 PM
BANQUET The UNC AMWHO Executive Board will welcome delegates to a formal banquet. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from our keynote speaker. Michael Hooker Research Center Atrium |
SUNDAY | APRIL 5, 2020
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
BREAKFAST & INFORMAL COMMITTEE Delegates will arrive at the Gillings School of Global Public Health for continental breakfast and coffee. Michael Hooker Research Center Atrium 8:50 AM - 12:10 PM
MORNING PLENARY SESSION The final plenary will begin, where all regional committees convene in one room to debate and vote on each other's final resolutions. Snacks and coffee will be provided all day. Banks D. Kerr Hall 1001 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
LUNCH Lunch will be served to all delegates. Michael Hooker Research Center Atrium 1:20 PM - 3:20 PM
AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION The final plenary will resume. Banks D. Kerr Hall 1001 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
CLOSING CEREMONIES The "Best Delegate" and "Best Position Paper" awards from each regional committee will be announced, and the conference will close. Banks D. Kerr Hall 1001 |
GUEST SPEAKERS |
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OPENING CEREMONIES
The UNC AMWHO Executive Board will kick off the weekend with a theme discussion, brief overview of the conference, and a welcome from Dr. Krista M. Perreira, who will be introduced by Dr. Benjamin Meier.
Krista M. Perreira, PhD
Professor, Social Medicine
Faculty Fellow, Carolina Population Center
Adjunct Professor, Health Policy and Management
Adjunct Professor, Health Behavior
Adjunct Professor, Maternal and Child Health
Dr. Krista M. Perreira is a Professor of Social Medicine as well as a faculty fellow in the Carolina Population Center. Her research focuses on the relationships among family, migration, and social policy, with an emphasis on improving health equity and eliminating racial, gender, and socio-economic disparities in health. Integrating economic, psychological, sociological theory, her research is highly interdisciplinary involving collaborations with scholars in public health, medicine, nursing, psychology, sociology and other disciplines. Her research also emphasizes partnerships with community-based organizations, schools, and local and state government committees in North Carolina. As a result, she has served as an advisory committee member or on the board of directors for several task forces and non-profit organizations seeking to improve the provision of services to Latino populations, immigrant and refugees in North Carolina.
In 2003, Dr. Perreira received a national Young Scholar award from the Foundation for Child Development for her work on the health of immigrant children. In 2010, she received the Phillip and Ruth Hettleman Prize for Artistic and Scholarly Achievement by Young Faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill. In 2014, she was awarded the Edward Kidder Graham Faculty Service Award for her national and state service to promote the welfare of immigrants and their families.
Most recently, Dr. Perreira, together with scholars from Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Diego, has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to examine the cardiovascular health of Hispanic/Latino adults and their children ages 8-16. In addition with support from the Russell Sage, Spencer, and William T. Grant Foundations, she has combined qualitative and quantitative methodologies to identify how acculturation and migration processes influence the health and academic achievement of Latino youth in North Carolina. With funding from the Anne E. Casey Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, she has also evaluated the health of immigrant populations (including unauthorized immigrants and unaccompanied minors) and their access to public health insurance and related public assistance programs. Her scholarship has been published in leading journals in demography (e.g., Demography), economics (e.g., Journal of Risk and Uncertainty), Medicine and Epidemiology (e.g., JAMA, NEJM), public health (e.g., American Journal of Public Health, Social Science and Medicine), psychology (e.g., Journal of Social Issues), social epidemiology, and sociology (e.g., Social Forces).
Her teaching and mentorship of young scholars are well aligned with her research interests in low-income, immigrant, Latino, and other vulnerable populations. Prior to joining the faculty of UNC School of Medicine, Dr. Perreira served as the Associate Dean of the Office for Undergraduate Research (OUR) and Professor of Public Policy in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC Chapel Hill. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in policy analysis, research design, immigration policy, and health policy. In addition, she has served as a policy analyst for FHI 360, the Migration Policy Institute, the Rand Corporation, the Urban Institute, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Benjamin Mason Meier, JD, LLM, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Public Policy
Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Policy and Management
Dr. Meier’s interdisciplinary research—at the intersection of global health, international law, and public policy—examines rights-based approaches to health. Working collaboratively across UNC’s Department of Public Policy and Gillings School of Global Public Health, Dr. Meier has written and presented extensively on the development, evolution, and application of human rights in global health.
As a contributor to the development of global health policy, Dr. Meier serves additionally as a Scholar at Georgetown Law School’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, as the past chair of the American Public Health Association’s Human Rights Forum, and as a consultant to international organizations, national governments, and nongovernmental organizations.
Having just published a volume on Human Rights in Global Health: Rights-Based Governance for a Globalizing World (Oxford University Press 2018), Dr. Meier is currently developing a new text on Foundations of Global Health & Human Rights (Oxford University Press 2020); coordinating special issues of Global Health Governance (Global Health Justice & Governance) and the Health & Human Rights Journal (Human Rights for Health across the United Nations); and finalizing a project on Assessing Foreign Public Health Legal Landscapes to Facilitate Achievement of U.S. Global Health Security Goals.
In June 2017, he received the Outstanding Recent Alumni Award from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, in November 2018, he received the Early Career Award for Excellence in Public Health Law from the American Public Health Association, and in March 2019, he received the Teaching Innovation Award from the Department of Health Policy & Management.
Dr. Meier received his Ph.D. in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University, his J.D. and LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from Cornell Law School, and his B.A. in Biochemistry from Cornell University.LUNCH & LEARN
Delegates will have the opportunity to network and learn from distinguished professionals. Speakers include professors from local universities, startup founders, researchers, and representatives of local nonprofit organizations.
Rob Callus
Program Manager, Refugee & Immigrant Youth Services, World Relief
Rob Callus currently works for World Relief as a Program Manager for their Refugee & Immigrant Youth Services program. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Health Sciences and Theology. After his undergraduate studies, Rob served with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he taught English at a secondary school for two years. Rob then completed a fellowship with Curamericas Global where he supported community-based maternal and child health programs in western Kenya. He finds himself currently at World Relief providing comprehensive academic, mental & social-emotional, and community integration services for refugee & immigrant youth in partnership with the Durham Public Schools system.
BANQUET
The UNC AMWHO Executive Board will welcome delegates to a formal banquet. Delegates will have the opportunity to hear from our keynote speaker, Dr. Aunchalee Palmquist, who will be introduced by Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Bentley.
Aunchalee Palmquist, PhD, IBCLC
Assistant Professor, Maternal and Child Health, Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute
Dr. Palmquist is an assistant professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and an affiliate of the Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI). She is a medical anthropologist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Dr. Palmquist’s research addresses the intersectionality of perinatal maternal, newborn and young child health disparities globally and in the U.S. Specific areas of interest include the birthing, breastfeeding and birth spacing continuum; human milk sharing and milk banking; and infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E). Dr. Palmquist’s interdisciplinary work bridges critical biocultural anthropology and global public health. She conducts community-based participatory research and uses both ethnographic methods and mixed-methods approaches. Her work is informed by human rights frameworks and a reproductive justice lens.
Dr. Palmquist is the lead for the CGBI Lactation and Infant Feeding in Emergencies (L.I.F.E.) Initiative and the Humanitarian Maternal and Child Health Program. She serves as a CGBI representative on the WHO/UNICEF Global Breastfeeding Collective, the Emergency Nutrition Network IFE Core Group, the CORE group Humanitarian-Development Task Force, and the United States Breastfeeding Committee. Dr. Palmquist has previously served as an International Lactation Consultants Association liaison to the United Nations.
Dr. Palmquist teaches a global breastfeeding seminar for maternal and child health students and lectures in the CGBI Mary Rose Tully Lactation Training Initiative for aspiring lactation consultants. She has presented her research at national and international academic conferences, and speaks to audiences of health care professionals and lay birth and breastfeeding supporters across the world.
Margaret (Peggy) Bentley, MA, PhD
Carla Smith Chamblee Distinguished Professor of Global Nutrition, Department of Nutrition
Associate Director, Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases
Fellow, Carolina Population Center
Associate Dean for Global Health, Gillings School of Global Public Health
Dr. Bentley received her MA and PhD degrees in Medical Anthropology from the University of Connecticut. From 1985-98 she was on faculty in International Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University. Since 1998 she has been on faculty at the University of North Carolina, where she has held several leadership roles. Dr. Bentley’s research focuses on women and infant's nutrition, infant and young child feeding, behavioral research on sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and community-based interventions for nutrition and health. She has particular expertise in qualitative research methods and the application of these for program development and evaluation.
Dr. Bentley formerly led an NIH-funded intervention to improve child growth and development in Andhra Pradesh, India and currently leads an NIH-funded trial in North Carolina for prevention of obesity among infants and toddlers. She is Principal Investigator of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant for analyses of nutrition data from the Breastfeeding, Antiretroviral and Nutrition (BAN) study. Dr. Bentley was a member of the Advisory Board of the Indo-US Joint Working Group on Maternal and Child Health and is a member of the ASPPH Global Health Committee. She is a Fellow of the Society for Applied Anthropology. She was the founding Chair of the Board of Directors of the Triangle Global Health Consortium. She is an officer of the Board of Directors of the Consortium for Universities in Global Health. In 2019, she was elected president of the Society for Implementation Science in Nutrition.
Dr. Bentley’s research focuses on nutrition for women and infants, infant and young child feeding, and community-based interventions for nutrition and health, with a focus on India, Africa and the U.S. She led a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation study that examined the nutrition outcomes of HIV+ mothers and their infants who were provided a lipid-based supplement and anti-retroviral therapy. She has expertise in formative and qualitative research methods and the application of these techniques for program development and evaluation. In addition to research interests in nutrition for women and infants and infant and young child feeding, she also has conducted behavioral research on sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and community-based interventions for nutrition and health. She has lived and worked extensively in India, and is a founding member of the Advisory Board of the Indo-U.S. Joint Working Group on Maternal and Child Health.
reviews, publications, & media |
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"Students said AMWHO had “revived [their] passion for diplomacy and advocacy,” and described the experience as one that “could not be found in a classroom” and “influential” for their future plans. 35 of 39 respondents (90%) rated the experience as “good” or better, and 38 of 39 (97%) would recommend AMWHO to a friend."
"AMWHO is a useful forum for students to improve their knowledge of global health issues, and sharpen their skills in diplomacy, communication, problem solving, and conflict resolution." |
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"The vast majority (98%) of respondents from the AMWHO 2014 conference indicated the conference as being "good" or "better", and 90% of respondents indicated they would recommend the conference to a friend... The American Mock World Health Organization fills a gap in global health policy education by providing students with the opportunity to develop skills essential to careers in global health governance."
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"By encouraging students to network with current professionals, AMWHO facilitates collaboration and communication between passionate individuals working to make a difference. It is surreal to think that the friends I made over the three day conference can one day be colleagues, or the global health professionals I networked with could one day be mentors. Sitting in the conference, I envisioned the other students and myself one day becoming a part of the WHO in order to make meaningful change by helping those without health care access or affordability." |
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"Global health crises are unimaginably complex. In listening to and participating in discourse during AMWHO 2016, I was forced to consider interests beyond my own. I was reminded of the opening addresses by Dr. del Rio and Dr. Weiss. There are multitudes of stakeholders, each with their own, often conflicting interests. Resources are always limited and compliance is almost never guaranteed. Perhaps the greatest lesson I took away from AMWHO was how truly difficult it is to work in the field of global health. But having spent the weekend engaging with equally enthusiastic individuals and having passed a resolution together, I came away with a renewed sense of determination that solutions, while complex, are not beyond our reach."
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"I think one of the problems with the undergraduate mindset is that we think we think we don’t have the tools to solve problems when we do," she said. "And I think events like this get undergraduates to realize that they can and will make a difference if they set their mind to it.”
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faq |
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Didn't answer your question? Please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
WHO CAN ATTEND?
AMWHO conferences are open to undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in public health, medicine, public policy, international relations, foreign diplomacy, and intergovernmental delegation. There is no required "major" or course of study that participants must have in order to attend an AMWHO conference. Students across the United States and abroad are invited to attend. A limited number of high school students will be able to apply to attend the conference at a later date (more information to come).
WHERE IS THE CONFERENCE BEING HELD?
This international conference will be held on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill, in the GIllings School of Public Health.
WHICH ROLES CAN I CHOOSE FROM IN THIS CONFERENCE?
Delegates may choose to be WHO Ambassadors, NGO Representatives, Media Correspondents, and Industry Representatives. More information about these roles are included in the 'About AMWHO' section.
DO I HAVE TO BE IN AN AMWHO CHAPTER TO ATTEND?
If your university does not have an AMWHO chapter, you may register yourself as an individual participant. The university delegation discount also applies to delegations of at least 8 students from the same university.
HOW MUCH IS THE REGISTRATION FEE?
Registration fees are time dependent.
- Early Registration is $60 by Tuesday, January 21st, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- Regular Registration is $70 by Sunday, March 1st, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- Late Registration is $80 by Wednesday, March 25th, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- Observer Registration is $60 by Wednesday, March 25th, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
- University delegation members receive $10 discount ($50 registration fee) by Sunday, February 9th, 2020 at 11:45 pm.
WHAT DOES THE REGISTRATION FEE COVER?
The registration fee includes delegate materials, most meals and snacks (two breakfasts, two lunches, light snacks/desserts on networking night, and a banquet dinner), presentations from distinguished professors and guest speakers, and access to all conference events.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY REGISTRATION FORM WAS SUBMITTED?
You should receive a confirmation email immediately after registration. Please ensure to save a copy for your records. If you did not receive a confirmation email, please contact us at [email protected].
HOW DOES THE DELEGATION DISCOUNT WORK?
Students who attend as part of a university delegation of at least 8 attendees will receive a $20 discount ($50 registration fee) by March 1st, 2020 at 11:45 pm. If your university does not have an established AMWHO chapter, the university delegation discount still applies to delegations of at least 8 attendees from the same university. Contact your AMWHO chapter president or delegation leader to register in advance before our deadline. Active UNC AMWHO members are also eligible for the discount.
To receive the delegation discount:
For additional delegation members after purchase, please contact [email protected]. We will not accept additional delegation members after Sunday, March 25th, 2020 at 11:45 pm. Please note that delegation discount registration fees are non-refundable, and cancellation policies do not apply.
For delegation discount questions/concerns, please contact [email protected].
To receive the delegation discount:
- Your chapter president or delegation leader must purchase at least 8 'Delegation Discount' tickets via our registration platform by March 1st, 2020 at 11:45 pm. This registration form will require basic information of each delegation member (name, email, phone number, university/school name, and registration type).
- After your chapter president or delegation leader purchases at least 8 'Delegation Discount' tickets, they will receive a confirmation email that states that the registration fee has been paid almost immediately after purchase. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your spam/junk folder or contact [email protected].
- Within 5 business days after purchase, your chapter president or delegation leader will receive an email from [email protected] with unique discount codes for each delegation member. Our unique discount codes will waive the registration fee payment. Each discount code is only redeemable once.
- Each delegation member can register through 'Early Registration', 'Regular Registration', or 'Observer Registration' depending on the date of payment and registration type with their unique discount code. Delegation members must register by the end of regular registration on Sunday, March 1st, 2020 by 11:45 pm.
For additional delegation members after purchase, please contact [email protected]. We will not accept additional delegation members after Sunday, March 25th, 2020 at 11:45 pm. Please note that delegation discount registration fees are non-refundable, and cancellation policies do not apply.
For delegation discount questions/concerns, please contact [email protected].
DELEGATE RESOURCES |
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Other delegate resources are accessible through the Delegate Hub. Delegates will have access to the Delegate Hub after registration confirmation.
TRAVELING TO AMWHO AT UNC
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UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health
135 Dauer Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27599 Flying to Chapel Hill For delegates flying to Chapel Hill, please note that you will be flying into the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Once you arrive, you may take an airport taxi or Uber/Lyft for the 20-minute drive (depending on traffic). Please note that if you requested a host for the weekend, they are not obligated to provide transportation throughout the conference, and it will be your responsibility to arrive at the conference venue. Uber/Lyft and public buses are readily available in Chapel Hill. Driving to Chapel Hill For delegates driving to Chapel Hill, the Gillings School of Global Public Health is located at 135 Dauer Dr on UNC-Chapel Hill's campus, across the street from the UNC Medical School. The school is housed within two connected buildings: Michael Hooker Research Center and Rosenau Hall. The closest parking deck will be the Dogwood parking deck on Manning Drive. Once parked, take a left out of the parking deck and walk down Manning Drive. Turn right onto Columbia, and the School of Public Health will be on your left. If you are arriving at the conference on Friday before 5pm and need a parking pass, please indicate this at the time of registration and it will be provided upon arrival. Free parking is available throughout campus on Saturday and Sunday. For any questions regarding traveling to the conference venue, please email [email protected] |
HOST-A-DELEGATE PROGRAM
In order to make the 2020 AMWHO International Conference accessible to students, UNC AMWHO has created a Host-A-Delegate program. This program allows for students traveling from afar to stay with another conference participant on or near UNC campus, without a fee. The Host-A-Delegate program allows for participants to meet other delegates from the conference and save on hotel expenses.
For Visitors:
During the registration process, simply opt-in to participate in the program and we will do our best to match you with a student from Chapel Hill. We will review applicants and hosts after each registration period and inform you of your status in the program. Please keep in mind that we may not be able to accommodate everyone. In such an event, we will assist you in finding affordable hotel accommodation by providing discounts at local hotels.
For UNC-Chapel Hill Students:
Many students from across the nation will be attending this event, and may not have the financial means of providing accommodations within a hotel. If you have any amount of space (i.e. floor space, an extra couch, etc.), and are comfortable with hosting a fellow delegate, please make that known during the registration process. This is a wonderful opportunity for networking and assisting students from across the country and world in making this opportunity cost-affordable.
To apply as a hostee, fill-out the application in the Conference Hub. For any questions regarding the Host-A-Delegate program, please email [email protected].
For Visitors:
During the registration process, simply opt-in to participate in the program and we will do our best to match you with a student from Chapel Hill. We will review applicants and hosts after each registration period and inform you of your status in the program. Please keep in mind that we may not be able to accommodate everyone. In such an event, we will assist you in finding affordable hotel accommodation by providing discounts at local hotels.
For UNC-Chapel Hill Students:
Many students from across the nation will be attending this event, and may not have the financial means of providing accommodations within a hotel. If you have any amount of space (i.e. floor space, an extra couch, etc.), and are comfortable with hosting a fellow delegate, please make that known during the registration process. This is a wonderful opportunity for networking and assisting students from across the country and world in making this opportunity cost-affordable.
To apply as a hostee, fill-out the application in the Conference Hub. For any questions regarding the Host-A-Delegate program, please email [email protected].
POSITION PAPER GUIDELINES
Delegates are required to submit one position paper. Position papers serve as a reminder for individual delegates of their country or organization's views regarding the topics of discussion throughout the conference, as well as a source of information and research that can be used by each delegation. On the final day of the conference, awards of "Best Position Paper" will be determined.
Position papers should provide a concise overview of the viewpoints of each delegation regarding the theme and should establish recommendations for sub-themes and points of discussion before the committee begins.
WHO Ambassadors:
International and regional conventions, treaties, declarations, resolutions, past and present programs of action which are relevant to the policy of your State should be addressed in the position paper. Moreover, delegates should consider the powers, viewpoints, and policies of other nations in its region--as well as the relationship between those nations--in choosing sub-themes to discuss.
Position papers should provide a concise overview of the viewpoints of each delegation regarding the theme and should establish recommendations for sub-themes and points of discussion before the committee begins.
WHO Ambassadors:
International and regional conventions, treaties, declarations, resolutions, past and present programs of action which are relevant to the policy of your State should be addressed in the position paper. Moreover, delegates should consider the powers, viewpoints, and policies of other nations in its region--as well as the relationship between those nations--in choosing sub-themes to discuss.
What makes a good position paper?
Good papers typically have the following:
Position papers should:
Possible Resources:
What makes a good position paper?
Good papers typically have the following:
- A list of references
- A clear objective/viewpoint
- Few to no grammatical errors
- A well structured argument
- Clear references to the theme and to the WHO Clean formatting
- May also contain references to the regional or theme guides
Position papers should:
- Give a brief overview of the theme
- Describe how the theme play a role in the country and their stance
- Establish what the country has proposed or has done to address the issue
- Propose future directions or solutions to serve as discussion points
- Include references (MLA/APA format)
Possible Resources:
- Official World Health Organization Publications
- Theme Guide
- Regional Guides
- Medical Journal/Publications (PubMed)
ANNOTATED EXAMPLES
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
This year, we aim to make our conference accessible by offering more full and partial scholarships, so we encourage you all to take advantage of this opportunity. Participants will be selected based on their need and academic/professional credentials. Traditionally, such scholarships are provided for travel fees to attend the conference. Please complete the application in its entirety and upload a copy of your resume and proof of income (acceptable forms are: a W-4 tax form, a previous federal tax return or a summary bank statement for international students) to the Delegate Hub by __. We will notify you of your status after all materials have been submitted.
Please note that we will only accept your application after having registered for the conference; this is absolutely mandatory.
Steps required to complete the application:
Please note that we will only accept your application after having registered for the conference; this is absolutely mandatory.
Steps required to complete the application:
- After you submit your registration, a confirmation email will be sent out with the information to access the Delegate Hub.
- In the Delegate Hub, you will have access to a variety of materials, including the Scholarship application.
- Read and follow the instructions listed in all 3 parts of the scholarship application.
HOTEL & LODGING
Delegates have two lodging options organized by UNC AMWHO: to stay in a hotel or participate in the Host-a-Delegate program. There are reserved rooms for delegates attending the 2020 AMWHO International Conference at various hotels in the area. Additionally, delegates may have free lodging through the Host-a-Delegate Program, in which a registered conference participant may stay with a UNC AMWHO member for the weekend. Although we do our best to provide enough Host-a-Delegate spots, availability is limited, and delegates are encouraged to have a back-up plan and to apply for the program as soon as possible. You can apply for Host-a-Delegate through the Delegate Hub.
UNC AMWHO has established relationships with a number of hotels in the area, with AMWHO-specific discounts offered. Please reserve a room on your own accord at the earliest convenience.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Durham Chapel Hill - $99/night
Book lodging through Airbnb - Varies/night
UNC AMWHO has established relationships with a number of hotels in the area, with AMWHO-specific discounts offered. Please reserve a room on your own accord at the earliest convenience.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Durham Chapel Hill - $99/night
- 3305 Watkins Road, Durham, NC 27707
- Complimentary Breakfast, Shuttle Service (< 5 miles & UNC), Wi-fi, and Parking
- Must book by 03/13/2020
- Use group code: AMW or direct link
Book lodging through Airbnb - Varies/night
- Get $40 off your first night through Airbnb via the UNC AMWHO referral link!
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The UNC AMWHO Executive Board would like to thank our sponsors of the 2020 AMWHO International Conference. For more information on how your academic institution or corporate organization can work with us, please email [email protected].
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Questions? Concerns? Let us know!