World Health Assembly Simulation 2026 – Global Health at a CrossRoads: Building a Sustainable Future for Global Health in an Era of Divestment  

On April 29, 2026, the School of Global Health at York University, in collaboration with the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health, and the Global Health Students’ Association, held the fourth World Health Assembly (WHA) Simulation at York University. 

For the FW25-26 school year, the WHA Simulation had been converted into an undergraduate course where students had an opportunity to learn about the WHA process, including engaging in global health governance through diplomacy, negotiation and policy-writing throughout the semester. The 2026 theme for the Simulation was Global Health at a Crossroads: Building a Sustainable Future for Global Health in an era of Divestment. Students acted as member state delegates, representing select countries in the committee sessions. 

The event began with a Land Acknowledgement and African Ancestral Acknowledgement by course director and WHA SIM Coordinator, Dr. Donya Razavi, and an address by Dahdaleh Global Health Graduate Scholar and Master of Ceremony, Yvette Nkurunziza. A welcome address was delivered by Dr. Mazen J. Hamadeh, the associate dean for Students, Faculty of Health. This was followed by a keynote address by Emily Antze, associate director of policy and advocacy for Partners in Health Canada.  

Subsequently, member delegates, DAIS members, and technical experts divided into their respective committee sessions, which included debates and formation of resolution drafts. The three sub-committee themes were: WHO Reform and Global Health Governance, Sustainable Financing for Global Health Programs and Reversing the Resurgence – Safeguarding Core Global Health Gains. Every committee had a set of DAIS members, which included a chair, vice-chair and secretary that helped preside over the sessions. Each committee also included technical experts, Dr. Kerry Scott, Dr. Monica Malta and Dr. Jessica Vorstermans, who offered support during committee sessions through insights and expert perspectives on the issues being discussed.  

After the Committee Session Simulation, the lunch session began with two side events - a Global Health Careers and Networking event, and a Global Health Practicum Student Capstone and Global Mental Health Student Poster viewing. This allowed students, faculty and alumni to engage with the Global Health program at York and acknowledge the work done by upper-year Global health students. Community organizations, including The Canadian Red Cross, Partners in Health and CareFirst Ontario, also took part in the networking event, allowing participants to connect their learning with the broader global health community.  

Students of the Global Health Practicum Student Capstone and Global Mental Health course present their research posters.  

Lastly, final resolutions were presented by select representatives in the closing plenary through short presentations. The closing plenary included countries Canada, Germany, Nigeria, Switzerland, China, Republic of South Sudan, India, New Zealand, Republic of Cuba, Sri Lanka and Egypt. Final resolutions passed in the closing plenary session discussed topics on increasing accountability and reporting mechanisms, enhancing domestic retention though ethical sponsorships, investing in integrated healthcare systems and a focus on primary health care through coordinated financing.  

The event concluded with student closing reflections and a closing address by the course director and WHA SIM Coordinator, Dr. Donya Razavi. Overall, this event provided an opportunity for students and global health scholars to engage with global health governance and propose sustainable solutions to maintain Global Health in an era of divestment.  

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