By Elisabeth Mitchell, public relations specialist in Health Sciences

Global health: Two little words that encompass an enormous number of topics. It’s not just about vaccines and birth rates. Medical care is just a piece of the puzzle. Global health is also about building partnerships with communities and businesses. It’s about navigating governmental regulations and a myriad of laws. And it’s about understanding cultural norms and traditions. This year the University of Utah School of Medicine will explore all of these aspects and more at the 2015 Global Health Conference, taking place April 9-11.

The conference will kick off on April 9 with a speech by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. His book “Half the Sky” is an international best-seller about the lives of women around the world. The speech will take place at the Jon M. Huntsman Center with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are free to U faculty, staff and students, and are $25 for members of the general public. You can purchase tickets here.

April 10-11, the conference will kick into high gear with sessions focused on extreme affordability at the Rice-Eccles Stadium Tower. Experts from the University of Utah, the G4 Alliance, Johns Hopkins Medicine International and the Centers for Disease Control will address improving global health technology, systems and education. Sessions will focus on topics ranging from innovations for surgical and anesthesia care to designs for afford and effectively engagement in the community.

This is not just an opportunity to learn, but also to advance. Those in need of Continuing Medical Education credits can fulfill them with attendance. Walk-in reservations on a first-come, first-served basis at the event. There are some limited scholarships available. For more information or to register, go here.