2025 UNC AMWHO INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

what is amwho?

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: Rectifying Historical and Contemporary Prejudices and Oppressions Undermining Global Health. 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 opening ceremonies and the Lunch and Learn event.

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.

Source: https://www.amwho.org/about-us.php

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Begins in January

Use the link above to register for the 2025 AMWHO International Conference through Eventzilla!

directors' Letter

Dear Delegates and Colleagues,

Welcome to the 2025 UNC American Mock World Health Organization (AMWHO) International Conference, taking place from April 4th-6th, 2025. As the founders of AMWHO, our university has had the opportunity to host several international, regional, and summit conferences. Over the last few years, we have learned the importance of global health governance in protecting population health and facilitating global cooperation to prevent future disasters. Now, we are so pleased and honored to invite you back in person, and we remain inspired by your dedication and passion to build a better future for public health. Our hope is that this conference will offer you a platform for you to engage with multifaceted and interdisciplinary public health issues and work alongside others to develop innovative policy solutions.

As Executive Co-Directors of the conference, we are excited for you to join us in this unique conference experience, modeled after the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Our goal is to create an experience where delegates can explore the complexities of the social, cultural, political, and economic determinants of health, all while collaborating with key stakeholders and interest groups. To account for diverse perspectives that influence global health issues, delegates may represent either a member state, media organization, non-governmental organization, or private corporation. Delegates will also get the opportunity to interact with passionate peers and learn from distinguished speakers, who will engage delegates in thoughtful discussions rooted in their public health expertise. Through these interactions, we hope that you will gain knowledge and skills crucial to becoming a global health leader, allowing you to analyze public health issues through a holistic lens and address these issues through effective policy.

The theme for the 2025 UNC AMWHO International Conference is Bridging Health and Healthcare Disparities between Low, Middle, and High-Income Countries to Achieve Universal Health Coverage. There is a critical need for concerted efforts between countries across socioeconomic settings to promote health equity, especially in addressing growing injustices. We hope that through thoughtful communication and debate regarding inequalities in infectious disease management, disparities in access to quality healthcare, sustainable community-based healthcare initiatives, prioritization of mental health support, unshared technological advancements, and preventive measures for non-communicable diseases, we will foster multisectoral and sustainable solutions.

Lastly, we would like to acknowledge all the hard work that has been put into this conference by the 2024-2025 UNC AMWHO Executive Board and Conference Board: without their dedication over the past several months, none of this would have been possible. We would also like to thank all of you for your commitment to and passion for advancing global public health solutions. We look forward to welcoming you to the 2025 UNC AMWHO International Conference!

Sincerely,
Annabelle Gallinek and Joe Danica Inigo
Conference Co-Directors
2025 UNC AMWHO International Conference

Annabelle Gallinek
Conference
Co-Director

Joe Danica Inigo
Conference
Co-Director

theme introduction

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 sub-themes 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.

SUBTHEME 1: INEQUALITIES IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Case Study: The Impact of Malaria on Morbidity and Mortality in LMICs
Case Study: Global Disparities in COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

SUBTHEME 2: DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE

Case Study : Treatment Failures Due to Poor Antibiotic Stewardship
Case Study: Disproportionate Sickle Cell Disease Incidence in Africa

SUBTHEME 3: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES

Case Study: Community Empowerment for Guinea Worm Eradication
Case Study: Community Health and Village Health Workers

SUBTHEME 4: PRIORITIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

Case Study: Post-COVID Effects on Youth Mental Health
Case Study: Effects of Conflicts on Mental Illness

SUBTHEME 5: UNSHARED TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS

Case Study: Preventable Neonatal Deaths in LMICs
Case Study: Artificial Intelligence: Zzapp Malaria

SUBTHEME 6: PRIMARY HEALTHCARE TO REDUCE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE (NCDs) THROUGH PREVENTION

Case Study: Rwanda's National Cervical Cancer Prevention Program
Case Study: Increased Risk and Prevalence of Diabetes in LMICs Without Corresponding Treatment

POSITION PAPERS ARE DUE: TBD
CHECK DELEGATE HUB FOR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND EXAMPLES!

conference schedule

Friday, April 4th

11:00 - 12:00 PM: Delegate Check-In
12:00 - 1:30 PM: Opening Ceremony
1:30 - 1:45 PM: Break
1:45 - 3:15 PM: Committee Session 1
3:15 - 3:45 PM: Break
3:45 - 4:45 PM: Press Conference and NGO Presentations
4:45 - 5:00 PM: Break
5:00 - 6:30 PM: Banquet and Key-Note Speaker

Saturday, April 5th

8:00 - 9:15 AM: Check-In and Breakfast
9:15 - 11:00 AM: Committee Session 2
11:00 - 11:15 AM: Break
11:15 - 12:45 PM: Lunch and Learn
12:45 - 2:45 PM: Committee Session 3
2:45 - 3:15 PM: Break
3:15 - 4:00 PM: Press Conference
4:00 - 6:00 PM: Committee Session 4

Sunday, April 6th

8:00 - 9:00 AM: Breakfast
9:00 - 11:00 AM: Plenary Session 1
11:00 - 12:00 PM: Lunch
12:00 - 2:00 PM: Plenary Session 2
2:00 - 2:30 PM: Break
2:30 - 3:30 PM: Closing Ceremonies

GUEST SPEAKERS

Opening Ceremony Keynote Speaker

Please check back for more information on the 2025 AMWHO International Conference Opening Ceremony Keynote Speaker!

Lunch and Learn speakers

Please check back for more information on the 2025 AMWHO International Conference Lunch & Learn Speakers!

reviews, publications, & media

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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."

"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.”

faq

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?

The conference will be hosted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at the School of Medicine (Roper Hall) and the Eshelman School of Pharmacy (Kerr Hall). For details regarding times and room assignments please check out our delegate guide under the Delegate Hub page.

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.

HOW MUCH IS THE REGISTRATION FEE?

The fee for early registration for the 2024 UNC AMWHO Conference is $65 if registered between January 5th and January 31st, 2024. The fee for regular registration for the 2024 UNC AMWHO Conference $75 if registered between February 1st and March 9th, 2024. The fee for late registration for the 2024 UNC AMWHO Conference is $85 if registered between March 10th and March 29th, 2024.

Didn't answer your question? Please don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

sponsorsHIP

The 2025 UNC AMWHO Executive Board would like to thank our 2025 AMWHO sponsors, without whom the 2025 AMWHO International Conference would not be possible. Please check back for updates on new 2025 sponsors.

For more information on how your academic institution or corporate organization can work with us, please email [email protected].