 Dr. Julio Frenk, renowned health policy scholar and former Minister of Health of Mexico, spoke to a large, appreciative audience at the University of Arizona’s Drachman Hall on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Interim Dean Iman Hakim of The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health (MEZCOPH) introduced Dr. Frenk, and he was also welcomed by Dr. Richard Carmona, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States and Distinguished Professor at the Canyon Ranch Institute and MEZCOPH. This lecture was the James E. Dalen, MD, MPH Distinguished Visiting Professor Lecture Series inaugural lecture. More information on this series is available below in this web page. Photo above right, Dr. James Dalen and Dr. Julio Frenk.
 The title of Dr. Frenk's talk was "Globalization and Health: Risks and Opportunities On Our Common Border." He spoke of the importance of building a "new world order of peace founded on diversity," and pointed out that the U.S.-Mexico border is three types of a border in one; it is a
- Border between two countries.
- Line between two regions, the United States and Latin America
- Division between the "developed" world (the U.S.) and the "undeveloped" world (Mexico).
Borders where nations intersect are regions where many crossings and exchanges occur, including trade, knowledge, diseases, and people, including people of desperate means traveling from one country into another for economic survival. Dr. Frenk is shown at right. More photos.
The "Three E's"
Dr. Frenk declared that the health of citizens in border areas is a powerful diplomacy force, where the “Three E’s” are in effect: Exchange, Evidence, and Empathy. He explained that goods, knowledge, and people are exchanged at borders. Evidence refers to information gathered about alternatives and better ways of achieving better health on both sides of any border, and that more data gathering and scientific studies need to be done. Empathy is required so that nations will peacefully coexist, and help each other along the way. He quoted Martin Luther King Jr. when he said that “All life is inter-related.” Borders exist on the map, but people’s lives flow across those borders.
 Dr. Frenk pointed out that we won’t solve developmental problems without the good health of citizens on both sides of any border, particularly the one between the U.S. and Mexico.. “Health is a condition required for development. For a society to be wealthy, it must be healthy.” As an example, obesity and diabetes are problems that many indigenous peoples are grappling with in the border region, due to poor diets, genetics, and other factors.
 Speaking of obesity and diabetes as large problems on both sides of the US-Mexico border, an attendee discussed that issue during the question and answer session following Dr. Frenk’s talk, stating that some local and national governments are sacrificing rural nutrition for urban nutrition needs and there are" two realities" for citizens of both countries. In rural areas the problem is not obesity and a poor diet but malnutrition, he said. Dr. Frenk agreed and stated that to be healthy, people need an adequate, healthy diet, and that this is an especially complex issue in the border areas, where there is a huge range of income and living circumstances among citizens. Photo at upper left: Left: Dr. Richard Carmona welcomes Dr. Frenk.
 Dr. Frenk received a standing ovation at the conclusion of his speech. A handcrafted glass bowl with engraving commemorating the lecture was presented to Dr. Frenk by Interim Dean Iman Hakim as thanks from the Zuckerman College of Public Health. Right: MEZCOPH Interim Dean Iman Hakim presents the commemorative bowl to Dr. Frenk. More photos.
Jennifer Cabe, Executive Director of the Canyon Ranch Institute, and Dr. Robert Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States and also presented an award to Dr. Frenk.
 A public reception for all attendees was held following the speech at Drachman Hall. At left, Dr. Carmona talks with Mrs. Sofia Abrams.
This lecture was sponsored by the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.
 About Dr. Julio Frenk:
Dr. Frenk's administration was involved in an ambitious effort to provide universal health insurance. Dr. Frenk currently divides his time between Seattle and Mexico City. In Seattle, he serves as Senior Fellow at the Global Health Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and is also the Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. In Mexico City, he is the President of the CARSO Health Institute, a new foundation focusing on health-systems innovations in Latin America.
Prior to joining the Mexican government, Dr. Frenk held positions as executive director of evidence and information policy at the World Health Organization (WHO), executive vice president of the Mexican Health Foundation, and founding director-general of Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health.
Dr. Frenk obtained his medical degree from the National University of Mexico in 1979. He also holds a Ph.D. in medical care organization and sociology, a Master of Public Health degree, and a Master of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Michigan.
Photo and Video Albums of This Event :
A photo album of Dr. Frenk's speech and the reception following are available, and also streaming video on the web may be viewed using your computer:
About This Lecture Series:
 To honor Dr. James E. Dalen’s countless lifelong contributions to the advancement of The University of Arizona and his key role in establishing The University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, the College is establishing an endowment in his name entitled “The James E. Dalen Endowment for Public Health Policy.” Dr. Dalen is pictured at left.This endowment supports the new James E. Dalen, MD, MPH Distinguished Visiting Professor Lecture Series in which distinguished scholars such as Dr. Frenk offer lectures and discussions to our campus community and to the public on local, state, national and international health policy issues. These lectures help connect the academic world with the “real world” of public health.
The next lecture topic and speaker for the Dalen Lecture Series have not yet been announced as of May 9, 2008. Please contact Donna Knight at (520) 626-6459 or by email at:
DKnight@email.arizona.edu
to receive updates on future lectures and events.
Comments and corrections for this web story should be sent to Loretta McKibben.
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