The picture of the week

The Network: Towards Unity for Health, Manila, Philippines

Khalifa Elmusharaf - GFMER Coordinator for Sudan

2026-08-19

One of the most rewarding moments in academic life is when you stop seeing your students simply as students.

During TUFH2026 in Manila, I facilitated a workshop on using EconomicEvidence to Strengthen PolicyEngagement and PublicHealth Action alongside Dr Ahmed Alhaj Ali, a graduate of our MPH programme and Dr Zahra Ghasemi, a graduate of our PgCert in Public Health at the University of Birmingham Dubai.

What made the experience particularly meaningful for me was watching Ahmed and Zahra confidently facilitate the workshop themselves; explaining difficult concepts, engaging with questions, guiding group discussions, and helping participants translate economic evidence into practical public health and policy action.

We had around 35 participants from more than 15 countries, including students, academics, public health professionals, and policymakers. Participants' feedback afterwards was excellent.

The workshop materials were also developed with Dr Sébastien Poix, my recent PhD student, who helped develop and pilot the approach with me at TUFH2025 in Philadelphia.

For me, this is one of the best measures of education.

Not simply what students know at the end of a programme, but whether they develop the confidence and competence to apply that knowledge, communicate it to others, and eventually stand beside you as colleagues.

Seeing that transition—from student, to collaborator, to someone helping others learn—is something I am genuinely proud of.