In 2016, the UW launched its Population Health Initiative, an interdisciplinary effort across the university to bring understanding and solutions to the biggest health challenges facing communities here in the Pacific Northwest, the U.S. and around the world.
The Hans Rosling Center for Population Health was made possible by a $210 million gift from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in October 2016 and $15 million in earmarked funding from the Washington Legislature, as well as funding from the university. The Gates family proposed naming the building after Rosling in honor of his rigorous analysis of the true state of the world and passion for improving heath, which spurred a decades-long friendship with the physician and his family.
Rosling, a doctor, statistician, author and professor who was born in Sweden, is known internationally for being a self-described “very serious possibilist.” He gained international attraction with his 2006 TED Talk titled, “The best statistics you’ve never seen,” but his work goes further than 14 million views.
“Hans Rosling was a visionary scholar who challenged the world to truly understand the health challenges we face, as well as the potential we have to overcome them. It was this unique combination of practicality and optimism that drove his work, and inspired so many to action,” said UW President Ana Mari Cauce.
The new Hans Rosling Center for Population Health will become home to the Department of Global Health, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, portions of the School of Public Health, and the UW’s Population Health Initiative.
The building is designed to be a central hub for colleges, departments, centers, researchers and students from across the university, as well as external partners, to identify and work together on projects related to population health. Construction is expected to be completed by fall 2020.
Editor’s note: Read the complete article on UW Today.
