Letters from Loyce
Letter from Loyce – a postscript: Passing the Torch, Keeping the Flame
Dearest members (and longtime friends), I will say the last part first. We are announcing today that I am stepping away from Global Health Council this month. It was not at all a decision I came to easily, but the pull to serve in a new capacity at such a critical moment was too strong…
Read MoreLetter from Loyce: Crisis Meets Opportunity – A Call to Action for the New Congress
Dear colleagues in global health, It was early 2019 when Global Health Council last released our briefing book, a guide for new members of Congress and their staff outlining the most pressing issues in global health and opportunities for action. That was somewhat foreboding, given how we cautioned even then about the cost of inaction.…
Read MoreHindsight is 2020
A few months ago, I talked about a global health marathon. Now, with several additional mile markers behind us, the 2020 race is nearly in our rear view mirror. Before we cross the finish line, finally getting this year behind us, I want to highlight what we’ve done in the last quarter to further global…
Read MoreLetter from Loyce: Elections, Optimism & Opportunity
Friends, We are just beginning to emerge from likely one of the most intense election cycles in modern U.S. history. While that has been exhausting, it’s important to remember the next presidential administration and 117th Congress represent an opportunity to advance global health. Global Health Council is eager to hit the ground running. The most…
Read MoreLetter from Loyce: Great Expectations: Thoughts on Our Upcoming Summit
As Global Health Council’s virtual summit, Pandemics, Politics and Privilege, draws near, we have been thinking a lot about what our audience is hoping to get out of the discussions and what you are most looking forward to during our time together. With the pandemic and the U.S. election as the backdrop, the types of…
Read MoreLetter from Loyce: The 2020 Global Health Marathon: A Long, but Winnable Race
Back in the day, I was a competitive runner. Throughout 2020, I’ve drawn on that experience quite a bit, especially the mindset and skills that helped me get through distance races. Despite our overwhelming wish for the COVID-19 crisis to end quickly, the truth is this is not a sprint; we are pacing ourselves for…
Read MoreLetter from Loyce: Solutions from the Source
I’ll let you in on a secret. Sometimes, my family and friends will place bets on how quickly people forget the last injustice caught on camera. It’s always so tragic and graphic that everyone feels guilty looking away. But we eventually do, moving on to the next breaking news story. It’s the same cycle time…
Read MoreLetter from Loyce: A 2020 Definition of Progress
If you are anything like me, you alternately feel like time stopped in March (“How is it summertime? Didn’t we just celebrate New Year’s?”) or that you have aged a decade in the span of six months (“Is it really still 2020?”). It seems like we’ve lived a lifetime in a matter of weeks and…
Read MoreLetter from Loyce: Real Talk on Racism in the Global Health Sector
Like many of you, I’ve been thinking a lot about power and privilege lately. Only that hasn’t taken the shape you might expect. You see, I don’t have as much interest in or energy for rehashing all the ways I’ve been passed up and pushed aside by others better positioned or perceived than me. I’ve…
Read MoreLetter from Loyce: It’s Time to be Audacious
I generally come across two kinds of advocates. The first is pragmatic, committed to a cause but careful about how it is championed and mindful of navigating the politics involved. This advocate is more likely to aim for the most winnable goal, all but assured of a positive outcome even before their work begins. And…
Read More