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Change Is Possible: Reflections on the History of Global Health
A groundbreaking new history of global health from one of the greatest leaders in the field.
In Change Is Possible, public health legend William H. Foege and five coauthors chronicle the failures and successes of global health through the modern age, including the massive impacts of colonialism, religious groups, philanthropies, politics, NGOs, and more.
Foege, who has served in local, national, and international public health contexts—including as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—is uniquely qualified to reflect on the history of global health. He and his Rollins School of Public Health coauthors explain why colonialism has been the greatest disaster for global health, whereas military medicine may have been its greatest asset. From the rapid development of NGOs to the impact of pharmaceutical companies over the last 35 years, to the hybrid programs that are now responsible for innovative contributions, the authors discuss multiple impacts on global health.
In other chapters with coauthors Paul Elish, Alison Hoover, Madison Lee, Deborah Chen Tseng, and Kiera Chan, Foege explores additional essential topics such as the legacy of colonialism in global health, early philanthropy versus new philanthropy, and how to promote positive change. Foege also shares critical lessons from the smallpox campaign—a disease he helped eradicate—and how these historical lessons can be applied in global health work today.
The book's research and reflections make this an essential book for students and readers interested in global health. In a narrative that is both deeply personal and universal, Foege shares lessons learned and personal experiences that craft a strikingly new history of global health.
In Change Is Possible, public health legend William H. Foege and five coauthors chronicle the failures and successes of global health through the modern age, including the massive impacts of colonialism, religious groups, philanthropies, politics, NGOs, and more.
Foege, who has served in local, national, and international public health contexts—including as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—is uniquely qualified to reflect on the history of global health. He and his Rollins School of Public Health coauthors explain why colonialism has been the greatest disaster for global health, whereas military medicine may have been its greatest asset. From the rapid development of NGOs to the impact of pharmaceutical companies over the last 35 years, to the hybrid programs that are now responsible for innovative contributions, the authors discuss multiple impacts on global health.
In other chapters with coauthors Paul Elish, Alison Hoover, Madison Lee, Deborah Chen Tseng, and Kiera Chan, Foege explores additional essential topics such as the legacy of colonialism in global health, early philanthropy versus new philanthropy, and how to promote positive change. Foege also shares critical lessons from the smallpox campaign—a disease he helped eradicate—and how these historical lessons can be applied in global health work today.
The book's research and reflections make this an essential book for students and readers interested in global health. In a narrative that is both deeply personal and universal, Foege shares lessons learned and personal experiences that craft a strikingly new history of global health.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2024
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October 27, 2025
History of global health, curated by Bill Foege, who led the campaign to eradicate smallpox (book House on Fire). Chapters are researched and written by his graduate students and anecdotes by Dr Foege at the end of each chapter.
Writing can be a bit tedious, more of a textbook style of writing that would accompany a global health class, but extremely useful content.
Topics could have been political - colonialism, military, CDC, medical missions, NGO’s, Foundation - but are covered in a very fair manner. Foege et al give a 30,000 foot view of global health so the content should be relevant into the future.
Global health is shifting from infectious disease/WASH/maternal child health focus to include focus on non-communicable diseases, surgery, technological innovation etc. This change is not discussed, but from history it is possible to infer a future trajectory.
One of the striking aspects to me is how recently the medical interventions in the US happened - eradication of hookworm, malaria, etc. I remember my grandparents being afraid of malaria and yellow fever. . .they probably lost family or friends in the Deep South before the epidemiological teams got involved.
Writing can be a bit tedious, more of a textbook style of writing that would accompany a global health class, but extremely useful content.
Topics could have been political - colonialism, military, CDC, medical missions, NGO’s, Foundation - but are covered in a very fair manner. Foege et al give a 30,000 foot view of global health so the content should be relevant into the future.
Global health is shifting from infectious disease/WASH/maternal child health focus to include focus on non-communicable diseases, surgery, technological innovation etc. This change is not discussed, but from history it is possible to infer a future trajectory.
One of the striking aspects to me is how recently the medical interventions in the US happened - eradication of hookworm, malaria, etc. I remember my grandparents being afraid of malaria and yellow fever. . .they probably lost family or friends in the Deep South before the epidemiological teams got involved.
Displaying 1 of 1 review