Alma Mata

Global Health Network

Alma Mata was formed in 2005 with the aim of providing information on training, careers, education and research in global health.  This is achieved in three main ways; the internet, publications and conferences.  The website is the main resource and is managed and freely contributed to by our active membership. 

The website, www.almamata.net, receives in excess of 2000 visitors per month.  Publications have included the results of surveys of Alma Mata members and recently have been used to inform government policy in the Lord Crisp’s report “Global Health Partnerships: The UK contribution to health in developing countries.” 

National conferences allow us to explore one particular issue in depth and we have experience of running three so far – the first in Leeds in 2005, the second in Edinburgh in 2006 and most recently in London in 2007.   All were extremely successful and attracted a diverse range of between 150 and 200 health professionals, students and others to debate central global health themes. We also ran a very successful Careers Day in London in 2008 and intend to do so again in 2009.

Alma Mata does not seek to be an 'active' organisation in campaigning or running global health projects. Active organisations for students and health professionals already exist, such as our partners in global health, Medact and Medsin UK. We hope that Alma Mata will be a tool to facilitate change in global health by offering a reliable, easily accessible source of information on latest global health news and events and a tool for communication, discussion and a forum for the sharing of research.