Chris Beyrer, Duke Global Health Institute

The recently reappointed director talks about his treasured Bhutanese painting and where he seeks solace on campus

Chris Beyrer with his painting of the medical Buddha

Dr. Chris Beyrer, director of the Duke Global Health Institute, has recently been reappointed to a second five-year term. Here are some of Beyrer’s favorite things.

Why Duke?

Global Health is a true interdisciplinary field. We bring together medicine, nursing, basic science, epidemiology, anthropology, engineering, behavioral sciences, and much more. Duke is certainly one of the great universities where interdisciplinary work is truly valued. So it's a great fit.

What's your favorite spot on campus?

I have to say that the Duke Gardens have given me great joy, some solace, and it makes a wonderful place for a walking meeting.

What's one of the best pieces of advice you've received?

I love that Alec Gallimore has stressed finding the joy in what we do. Tough as global health work can be, it is joyful too.

What's a treasured object in your office?

A Bhutanese painting of the Medicine Buddha –  which I truly treasure and use in my practice.

Share a memorable Duke moment.

Being part of the half-time show for the Duke Centennial Homecoming football game against UNC. Only at Duke would the Nobel laureates and the members of the National Academies be out on the field. (Duke won, BTW.)

What are three things you're proud of accomplishing during your past term?

Putting together a great leadership team at DGHI. Starting a new Center for Global Mental Health. Starting a new Global Health and Climate Change Initiative with our partners in Africa, Asia, and the Amazon.

What are some goals for your next term?

We're creating a new global health impact program to increase the life-saving impacts of our work; this will start with global pediatrics. We’re going to work more closely with the Lemur Center and with Evolutionary Anthropology to expand Duke's work with human health in Madagascar. We’re going to do more with the arts and humanities, which are so important for the human and community aspects of our work.

Read more about the reappointment on Office of the Provost.