Building sustainable networks: Introducing the pan institution network for global health

In the era of Sustainable Development Goals and record numbers of students seeking educational opportunities abroad, university global health partnerships are quickly becoming a mainstay. These partnerships can bring together researchers, students, and community members in ways that address education, research, and community health needs. There are compelling to having institutional partnerships so that individuals can collaborate to have a sustainable impact compared to working individually within institutions. A collective base of expertise may also leverage scarce resources and help to develop creative solutions to intractable issues. Frequently though, universities working together on these issues can reinforce existing disparities and unequal relationships that prioritize the flow of information, bodies, and agendas from higher to lower resourced parts of the globe. We take as a starting point that partnerships, if built, maintained, and managed in an equitable fashion have the potential to generate a lasting positive impact on global health.