History, Anthropology & Ethics of Health
Prof. Dr. med. Walter Bruchhausen Head Section Global Health About me History, Anthropology & Ethics of (Global) Health Many possible improvements in health do not fail due to the non-existence of medical and scientific knowledge and skills, but because of the socio-cultural conditions necessary for their use. Thus, Global Health requires a focus also on cultural and social science perspectives, such as those intensively dealt with in Medical Anthropology and religious studies, human rights discourses, social and cross-cultural ethics as well as debates on colonialism. Historical, anthropological and ethical perspectives are essential for understanding and guiding Global Health. Global Health Ethics Global Health History Medical Anthropology Local Health History Global Health Ethics A new value basis that emphasizes human rights, equity and respect for sociocultural diversity distinguishes Global Health from its many predecessors. Thus, ethics are an indispensable part of Global Health and stood at the beginnings of this new area and era in Bonn, too. Read more Based on his postgraduate studies in Health Care Ethics (University of Glasgow under the supervision of Prof. Robin S. Downie), relevant areas of moral theology (Prof. Bernhard Fraling/Würzburg and Gerhard Höver/Bonn) and the ethical workshops for (future) physicians (initiated by Prof. Ludger Honnfelder/Bonn) that became a starting point for IWE and DRZE, Walter Bruchhausen started teaching in biomedical and clinical ethics at Bonn University in 1997. In cooperation with several partners, this led to lasting institutionalizations of ethics in Bonn such as: Clinical Ethics Committee UKB | Klinisches Ethikkomitee www.ukbonn.de/ueber-uns/zentrale-bereiche/klinisches-ethikkomitee/ Klinisches Ethikkomitee des UKB Obligatory Seminar in Clinical Ethics (5th year medical students) Based on his postgraduate studies in Health Care Ethics (University of Glasgow under the supervision of Prof. Robin S. Downie), relevant areas of moral theology (Prof. Bernhard Fraling/Würzburg and Gerhard Höver/Bonn) and the ethical workshops for (future) physicians (initiated by Prof. Ludger Honnfelder/Bonn) that became a starting point for IWE and DRZE, Walter Bruchhausen started teaching in biomedical and clinical ethics at Bonn University in 1997. In cooperation with several partners, this led to lasting institutionalizations of ethics in Bonn such as: Clinical Ethics Committee UKB | Klinisches Ethikkomitee www.ukbonn.de/ueber-uns/zentrale-bereiche/klinisches-ethikkomitee/ Klinisches Ethikkomitee des UKB Obligatory Seminar in Clinical Ethics (5th year medical students) Publications Collaborators Monographs Bruchhausen W, Schott H (2008), Geschichte, Theorie und Ethik der Medizin (Göttingen: UTB). Edited Volume Bruchhausen W, Hofer HG (ed.) (2010), Ärztliches Ethos im Kontext. Historische, phänomenologische und didaktische Perspektiven (Göttingen: v&r unipress/Bonn University Press) Editorial function Bruchhausen W, Forsbach R (eds.), series „Medizin und Kulturwissenschaft: Bonner Beiträge zur Geschichte, Anthropologie und Ethik der Medizin“ (Medicine and Cultural Studies: Bonn Contributions the History, Anthropology and Ethics of Medicine) (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck&Rupprecht/Bonn University Press), 14 volumes, 10 since becoming an editor Dissertations/Theses „Inkulturation und Kontextualisierung medizinischer Praxis als Herausforderung an Ethik“ (Diploma dissertation in Catholic theology, Bonn, 1994, revised and published as Medizin und Moral ohne Kontext, in Zeitschrift für medizinische Ethik) Bruchhausen, W „Moral Issues of Health Care in Developing Countries“ (Dissertation M.Phil, Glasgow, 1990, revised and published in Zeitschrift für evangelische Ethik) Original work in peer-reviewed journals and collected volumes Jacobsen KH, Waggett CE, Adeyi O, Bruchhausen W et al. (2025) An updated definition of global health. Global Health Research and Policy (2025) 10:56 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41256-025-00460-8 Bruchhausen W (2024c) Global Health (Ethics): Eine Bestandsaufnahme in programmatischer Absicht, in: Jahrbuch für Christliche Sozialethik 64, Münster, 73-101 (Überarbeitung von 108) Bruchhausen W (2024b) Women’s Health, Culture, and Ethics—Anthropological and Socio-Ethical Aspects in Global Health, in: Wacker J, Rothe C, En-Nosse M (ed.), Global Women’s Health. Gynecology and Obstetrics Under Diverse Global Conditions (Berlin: Springer Nature) 79-88. Cook-Deegan M, Böge K, Bruchhausen W, Chagunda M, Chaturvedi M, Esen M, Hanefeld J, Kampmann B, Köhler C, Köhler C, Osei F, Prazeres da Costa C, Rehfuess E, Velavan TP, Anton N (2024 Beyond buzzwords: fostering interdisciplinary and collaborative global health research in Germany and beyond. .Glob Health Action. 2024 Dec 31;17(1):2408884. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2408884. Epub 2024 Oct 21. Bruchhausen W (2024a), Ambiguität in Global Health. Identitätsbildungen zwischen Medizin, Kultur und Religion, in: Klaus von Stosch, Cornelia Dockter (ed.), Ambiguität, Macht und die Formierung religiöser Identitäten = Ambiguitäten – Identitäten – Sinnentwürfe Bd. 3 (Freiburg u.a.: Herder) 97-125. Bruchhausen W (2023b) Global Health (Ethics): Eine Bestandsaufnahme in programmatischer Absicht = Sozialethische Arbeitspapiere des Instituts für Christliche Sozialwissenschaften Nr. 24, Münster, doi: 10.17879/00009794617 Bruchhausen W (2023a), Frauengesundheit, Kultur und Ethik – Anthropologische, ethnomedizinische und sozialethische Aspekte in Global Health, in: Wacker J, Rothe C, En-Nosse M (ed.), Globale Frauengesundheit. Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe unter unterschiedlichen globalen Bedingungen (Berlin: Springer Nature) 83-94. Bruchhausen W, Kuhn E (2023), Human Rights and International Obligations in Pandemic Times – More than Health Protection, in: Reis A, Schmidhuber M, Frewer A (ed.), Pandemics and Ethics. Development – Problems – Solutions (Berlin: Springer Nature), 39-52. Kuhn E, Henke O, Evang E, Falkenberg T, Bruchhausen W, Schultz A (2023), Silent Triage: Public Health decision-making beyond prioritisation. BMJ Glob Health. 2023 Feb;8(2):e011376. doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011376. PMID: 36813304; PMCID: PMC9950902 Bruchhausen W, Kuhn E (2022), Das Menschenrecht auf Gesundheit, seine inhaltliche Einbettung und institutionelle Absicherung. Zeitschrift für medizinische Ethik 68, 279-290. DOI: 10.14623/zfme.2022.3.279-290 Bruchhausen W, Kuhn E (2021), Menschenrechte und internationale Verpflichtungen in Pandemien – mehr als Gesundheitsschutz, in: Reis A, Schmidhuber M, Frewer A (ed.), Pandemien und Ethik (Berlin: Springer Nature), 45-59. Bruchhausen W (2019e), Medizin als Opfer und Täter – Historische und moralische Lehren aus der NS-„Euthanasie“, in: Dietmar Schulze, „ Auch der ‚Gnadentod‘ ist Mord“. Der Augsburger Strafprozess über die NS-„Euthanasie“-Verbrechen in Kaufbeuren und Irsee, hg. v. Stefan Raueiser und Thomas Düll (Irsee: Grizeto-Verlag 2019), 183-200. Bruchhausen W (2018g), Ärztliches Handeln in kultureller Differenz – Was erwarten Menschen von der Medizin?, in: Guthoff R. F./Bernhard W (Hrsg.), Ärztliches Handeln – Erwartungen und Selbstverständnis = Nova Acta Leopoldina N. F. 420 (Stuttgart: Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft) 65-74. Bruchhausen W (2018d), Sterbenarrative im Horizont der Narrative Medicine und Medical Humanities, in: Simon Peng-Keller/Andreas Mauz (Hrsg.), Sterbenarrative. Hermeneutische Erkundungen des Erzählens am und vom Lebensende = Studies in Spiritual Care 4 (Berlin: De Gruyter) 259-282. Bruchhausen W (2017e), The Human Right to Health and Primary Health Care (PHC) Policies, in:
Dr. Maximilian Rost
Research Projects Memberships Teaching Research Topics Health service research Lung cancer Implementation of clinical trials in LMICs Current Projects PalliCaPro (Palliative Care Provision in the Kagera Region), Tanzania FAST-ABCD Sequencing (Fast and Accurate Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Nanopore Sequencing), Tanzania Co-Chair Working Group Global Oncology European Society of Medical Oncology Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie Master of Science Global Health; Modul II: Respiratory diseases Wahlpflichtfach Global Health Research Topics Health service research Lung cancer Implementation of clinical trials in LMICs Current Projects PalliCaPro (Palliative Care Provision in the Kagera Region), Tanzania FAST-ABCD Sequencing (Fast and Accurate Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Nanopore Sequencing), Tanzania Co-Chair Working Group Global Oncology European Society of Medical Oncology Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie Master of Science Global Health; Modul II: Respiratory diseases Wahlpflichtfach Global Health Dr. med. Maximilian Rost – maximilian.rost@ukbonn.de
Dr. Jakob von Herder
Research Projects Memberships Teaching Research Topics Oncology implementation and health services research for migrants in Germany Implementation research at primary health care level in northern Tanzania Current Projects MMED Oncology: Master of Medical Oncology Kilimanscharo Christian Medical Center, Moshi Tanzania OOCC (Online Outreach Cancer Clinic) European Society of Medical Oncology working group on infectious disease of DGHO (AGIHO) Lecturer: Master’s Programme Global Health (Module 2), Bonn Lecturer: Elective „Introduction to Global Health“ Master’s thesis supervisor Research Topics Oncology implementation and health services research for migrants in Germany Implementation research at primary health care level in northern Tanzania Current Projects MMED Oncology: Master of Medical Oncology Kilimanscharo Christian Medical Center, Moshi Tanzania OOCC (Online Outreach Cancer Clinic) European Society of Medical Oncology working group on infectious disease of DGHO (AGIHO) Lecturer: Master’s Programme Global Health (Module 2), Bonn Lecturer: Elective „Introduction to Global Health“ Master’s thesis supervisor Dr. med. Jakob von Herder +49 17621755320 johann.herder@ukbonn.de
Research Assistants
About me Tasks Katharina Gries is currently pursuing her second degree which is in Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Bonn. Between 2018-2022 she completed her Bachelor of Arts in English and Social Sciences (Teaching) at the University of Bonn which included studying abroad for one semester in the US, at Kalamazoo College. For her, Global Health is about improving health and health access worldwide as effectively and sustainably as possible. Additionally, one significant part of Global Health for her is working in interdisciplinary teams which is very educational for her. Due to her study background, she is especially interested in food security and the role of nutrition in Global Health in times of crisis and climate change. Katharina Gries is currently pursuing her second degree which is in Nutrition and Food Science at the University of Bonn. Between 2018-2022 she completed her Bachelor of Arts in English and Social Sciences (Teaching) at the University of Bonn which included studying abroad for one semester in the US, at Kalamazoo College. For her, Global Health is about improving health and health access worldwide as effectively and sustainably as possible. Additionally, one significant part of Global Health for her is working in interdisciplinary teams which is very educational for her. Due to her study background, she is especially interested in food security and the role of nutrition in Global Health in times of crisis and climate change. Katharina Gries Katharina.Gries@ukbonn.de About me Tasks Mila Maria Rick is currently studying Political Science with a minor in Sociology at the University of Leipzig. She started her journey in Medicine before shifting her attention to the political and social dimensions of health, with a focus on how social and economic conditions shape health and healthcare access. For her, Global Health means understanding how these broader determinants impact health outcomes, health decisions and access to care. Through her studies and involvement in health and human rights projects, she has explored topics such as structural inequality, intersectionality, and health justice. She is especially interested in how health systems can become more inclusive and equitable through research and policy. Mila supports the Global Health Academy, an initiative of the German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA). She organizes the monthly GLOHRA Academy Series, coordinates the GLOHRA Training Certificate and regularly updates the GLOHRA Training Repository. Mila Maria Rick is currently studying Political Science with a minor in Sociology at the University of Leipzig. She started her journey in Medicine before shifting her attention to the political and social dimensions of health, with a focus on how social and economic conditions shape health and healthcare access. For her, Global Health means understanding how these broader determinants impact health outcomes, health decisions and access to care. Through her studies and involvement in health and human rights projects, she has explored topics such as structural inequality, intersectionality, and health justice. She is especially interested in how health systems can become more inclusive and equitable through research and policy. Mila supports the Global Health Academy, an initiative of the German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA). She organizes the monthly GLOHRA Academy Series, coordinates the GLOHRA Training Certificate and regularly updates the GLOHRA Training Repository. Mila Rick Global Health Academy About me Tasks Robert Neumann is currently studying medicine at the University Hospital Bonn. Before attending University Bonn, he studied political science in Berlin and Edinburgh. For him, Global Health is the interdisciplinary approach of social and natural sciences that attempts to examine the lack of health from different perspectives in order to improve the access to a healthy life globally in a holistic manner. Of particular interest to him at the moment are emergency and disaster relief, vaccinations, and global oncology. Robert Neumann is currently studying medicine at the University Hospital Bonn. Before attending University Bonn, he studied political science in Berlin and Edinburgh. For him, Global Health is the interdisciplinary approach of social and natural sciences that attempts to examine the lack of health from different perspectives in order to improve the access to a healthy life globally in a holistic manner. Of particular interest to him at the moment are emergency and disaster relief, vaccinations, and global oncology. Robert Neumann s4roneum@uni-bonn.de About me Tasks Lina Bartusevicius is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Health Sciences at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, she is particularly interested in female health and how global policy changes can drive improvements in women’s health outcomes. For her, Global Health is a multidisciplinary field that combines scientific, social, and political perspectives to address health inequities worldwide. Her focus lies in understanding and shaping the policies that influence access to healthcare, aiming to create lasting change through evidence-based and equitable approaches. Lina supports the Global Health Academy, an initiative of the German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA). She assists in planning and implementing training programs hosted by GLOHRA members and initiatives of the Global Health Academy. Lina Bartusevicius is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Health Sciences at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, she is particularly interested in female health and how global policy changes can drive improvements in women’s health outcomes. For her, Global Health is a multidisciplinary field that combines scientific, social, and political perspectives to address health inequities worldwide. Her focus lies in understanding and shaping the policies that influence access to healthcare, aiming to create lasting change through evidence-based and equitable approaches. Lina supports the Global Health Academy, an initiative of the German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA). She assists in planning and implementing training programs hosted by GLOHRA members and initiatives of the Global Health Academy. Lina Bartusevicius Global Health Academy About me Tasks Elena Schweizer is currently pursuing her medical degree at the University of Leipzig. For her, Global Health is about global cooperation and interdisciplinary approaches tackling current challenges to promote universal health coverage as well as striving for a more equitable world. Due to her aspiration to become a gynecologist, she
Dr. Sandul Yasobant
Dr. Sandul Yasobant PhD MPH Leader One Health Global One Health – yasobant@uni-bonn.de Research Projects Memberships Teaching Research Topics One Health and Disease Prevention Health Policy & Systems Research and Operational Research Environmental and Occupational Health Epidemiology and Biostatistics Current Projects Co-creating One Health workforce through Health system strengthening in Western India (OneHealth System Strengthening in India-OHSSIN)(German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA), Germany) NRW Forschungskolleg “One Health and Urban Transformation – identifying risks and developing sustainable solutions” (Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft) Steering Committee Member (Asia Pacific Region) One Health Mentor ECHO-Network Global Assessor Lancet Fellow Collaboration & Partnership Lead supporting the Evidence to Action Working Group Research Topics One Health and Disease Prevention Health Policy & Systems Research and Operational Research Environmental and Occupational Health Epidemiology and Biostatistics Current Projects Co-creating One Health workforce through Health system strengthening in Western India (OneHealth System Strengthening in India-OHSSIN)(German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA), Germany) NRW Forschungskolleg “One Health and Urban Transformation – identifying risks and developing sustainable solutions” (Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft) Steering Committee Member (Asia Pacific Region) One Health Mentor ECHO-Network Global Assessor Lancet Fellow Collaboration & Partnership Lead supporting the Evidence to Action Working Group
Dr. Esther Evang
Research Projects Memberships Teaching Research Topics The role of nutrition in global health research Impact of food-to-food-fortification with baobab fruit pulp on iron status in Kenyan schoolchildren (RCT) Impact of nutrition education for improved young child nutrition linked with agriculture interventions on nutrition security in Malawi and Cambodia Determinants on decision making of early child feeding in Malawi (FGD) Operations and Outreach Manager of the Global Health Academy – an initiative of the German Alliance for Global Health Research BAOFOOD Module: Epidemiology(MSc Global Health) Module: Simulation Game on health and nutrition emergencies (MSc Global Health) Module: International Nutrition (BSc) Module: Transition Management (MSc) Research Topics The role of nutrition in global health research Impact of food-to-food-fortification with baobab fruit pulp on iron status in Kenyan schoolchildren (RCT) Impact of nutrition education for improved young child nutrition linked with agriculture interventions on nutrition security in Malawi and Cambodia Determinants on decision making of early child feeding in Malawi (FGD) Operations and Outreach Manager of the Global Health Academy – an initiative of the German Alliance for Global Health Research BAOFOOD Module: Epidemiology(MSc Global Health) Module: Simulation Game on health and nutrition emergencies (MSc Global Health) Module: International Nutrition (BSc) Module: Transition Management (MSc) Dr. Esther C. Evang, MSc MSc +49 228-28751520 esther.evang@ukbonn.de