In collaboration with CGPH and the Carter Center, CEND recently hosted a special screening of The President and the Dragon, a powerful documentary highlighting one of the most remarkable achievements in global health: the near-eradication of guinea worm disease. The film offered a compelling look at decades of coordinated international effort, community engagement, and persistence required to combat a neglected tropical disease.
Following the screening, attendees engaged in a thoughtful panel discussion featuring Adam Weiss, Director of the Carter Center’s Guinea Worm Eradication Program, Dan Fletcher, Faculty Director of the Blum Center for Developing Economies, and Tierra Smiley-Evans, Assistant Professor of Integrative Biology and Public Health. The panel explored key lessons from the eradication campaign, including the importance of community-based interventions, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained commitment in tackling complex public health challenges.
Panelists also reflected on how these lessons can inform current efforts to address neglected tropical diseases and emerging global health threats. The conversation underscored both the progress made and the work that remains in advancing health equity worldwide.
The evening concluded with a reception, where students, researchers, and global health practitioners had the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and build relationships across disciplines.
Learn more about the inspiring film and where to watch it here.