BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//132.216.98.100//NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.20.4// BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20261027T051905EDT-0196WHHOxl@132.216.98.100 DTSTAMP:20261027T091905Z DESCRIPTION:Prativa Baral\, PhD\n\nFaculty Associate\n Bloomberg School of P ublic Health\n Johns Hopkins University\n\nWHEN: Friday\, February 17\, 202 5\, from 3 to 4 p.m. EST\n\nWHERE: In-Person | 2001 McGill College\, Rm 11 35 | Zoom\n\nAbstract\n\n\n Global health policies are often built on the p remise of being evidence-based\, but in reality\, fragmented and outdated information systems undermine their effectiveness—particularly during cris es like pandemics. Drawing on my work with the World Bank\, Johns Hopkins University\, and the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force\, I will demonstrate how adaptive\, real-time data systems have the potential to drastically impro ve crisis preparedness and response. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, my tea m and I conducted “live” rapid-cycle health facility assessments in 20+ co untries\, revealing substantial variability in health systems readiness an d capacity to respond to crises. I will discuss efforts to implement scala ble surveillance tools\, and a vision for developing a pathogen-agnostic s urveillance network to ensure the availability of timely\, accurate inform ation during health emergencies. This talk will demonstrate how enhancing global health information systems through scalable data systems and forwar d-looking surveillance networks can build more resilient health systems\, directly supporting PERL's mission to improve global health preparedness a nd crisis response.\n\n\nSpeaker Bio\n\nDr. Prativa Baral is an infectious disease epidemiologist and faculty associate at the Johns Hopkins Bloombe rg School of Public Health\, specializing in global health policy\, health systems resilience\, and pandemic preparedness. Her research and policy c ontributions have shaped pandemic research and policy response strategies domestically and internationally across multiple organizations\, including the Canadian COVID-19 Immunity Task Force\, WHO\, World Bank\, Gates Foun dation and OpenAI.\n\nMost recently\, she led the secretariat of an expert panel convened by the Royal Society of Canada and Canadian Academy of Hea lth Sciences to define Canada’s role in global health. Previously\, she ha d advised the government of Canada in developing the first Canadian global health research strategy (CIHR’s framework for action on global health re search). She is also the co-founder of Let Science Connect\, a science com munications social enterprise.\n\nDr. Baral is a sought-after speaker and expert panelist\, frequently contributing to major domestic and global mee tings\, including at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos. S he holds a PhD from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health\, an MPH from Columbia University and a BSc from McGill University.\n DTSTART:20250117T200000Z DTEND:20250117T210000Z LOCATION:Room 1135 and Online\, McGill College 2001\, CA\, QC\, Montreal\, H3A 1G1\, 2001\, avenue McGill College SUMMARY:Special Seminar: Building Resilient Health Systems: Advancing Real- Time Data and Surveillance for Crisis Preparedness URL:https://www.mcgill.ca/global-public-health/channels/event/special-semin ar-building-resilient-health-systems-advancing-real-time-data-and-surveill ance-crisis-362434 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR