Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN) announced the creation of the Christian J. Trefz Family Endowed Chair in Global Health, the first of its kind in Connecticut and one of only a few hospital-based endowed global health chairs in the nation, according to WCHN.
At a reception today at Norwalk Hospital, Dr. Majid Sadigh, a global health expert and director of WCHN’s Global Health Program, was inducted as the endowed chair’s inaugural recipient.
The endowed chair was established with a gift from Christian J. and Eva W. Trefz of Westport and advances the work of WCHN’s Global Health Program.
The program was launched in 2012 to provide medical residents, students and faculty with hands-on learning opportunities to experience global healthcare systems and to better understand public health issues and the impact of globalization on vulnerable populations. The Global Health Program currently offers clinical training opportunities at partner sites in five countries, including the Dominican Republic, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Russia and Vietnam.
The WCHN Global Health Program has expanded to include training opportunities for students and faculty at Norwalk Hospital as well as the University of Vermont College of Medicine, for which WCHN serves as a full branch campus.
The Christian J. Trefz Family Endowed Chair in Global Health is the eighth endowed chair at WCHN, the parent organization for Norwalk, Danbury and New Milford Hospitals and affiliated organizations.
