Dr Debas founded the University of California’s G​lobal Health Institute, UCGHI, in 2009 with the vision of bringing together experts from across the institution’s 10 campuses to create a transdisciplinary school that could stimulate and promote research, collaborations and education initiatives to advance global health.  

In a series of video messages to mark the institution’s tenth anniversary, leaders at the UCGHI and the University of California’s campuses appreciated Dr Debas’s optimism, persistence and humility and reflected on how his vision had impacted them personally and professionally.

“Haile has been deeply inspirational for many of us working in global public health,” said Dr Jamie Sepulveda of UC San Francisco. “He never tried to get the limelight or to make it about him, it has been about the mission, about the cause of global health.”

UCGHI has grown to combine the expertise of faculty from the human health sciences to veterinary medicine, from agriculture to law, to investigate key trends and challenges in Migration and Health; One Health: Water, Animals, Food and Society; and Women’s Health and Empowerment.

“It’s a great pleasure to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the UC Global Health Institute,” said Dr Debas. “I’m proud of the achievements of UCGHI and I’m most grateful for the incredible, dedicated and inspiring leadership that has been provided.” 

Dr Debas also played a key role in forging the partnership between UC San Francisco – where he served as Chancellor  – and AKU that led to the founding of the University’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research in Pakistan.  

Dr Debas’ career as a physician, researcher, teacher and academic administrator spans over four decades and includes positions at hospitals, medical centres and universities in Canada and the USA. He continues to be an influential voice in academic medicine and issues of global health.

Dr Debas was appointed to AKU’s Board of Trustees in 2010.