The Western Regional International Health Conference started in November 2002 by a group of medical students at the University of Washington, School of Medicine’s International Health Group, a student organization committed to bringing awareness to global health issues and supporting their medical student colleagues.

This event, which began as a student-inspired, student-run conference, now draws close to 1,000 students, faculty, staff, residents, and community members from the western half of the United States and Canada. Past keynote speakers have included Paul Farmer, Jim Yong Kim, Jeffrey Sachs, and Mirta Roses Periago.

Chris Hedges, Keynote Speaker at the 2010 WRIHC on War & Global Health.

The conference usually alternates between the University of Washington, the home institution for the event, and other western U.S. and Canadian institutions. The conference organizing committees are made up of an interdisciplinary cross-section of undergraduates, graduate, and professional students who are committed to a pursuit of a career in global health, including nursing, medicine, social work, law, business, public health, dentistry, and pharmacy.

Current Conference

The University of Washington will host the 9th Western Regional International Health Conference, April 27-29, 2012 with the theme: “At a Crossroads: Choosing Hidden Paths in Global Health.”