- Salt Lake City-based Kirk Humanitarian helped provide micronutrient supplements to 75 million pregnant women.
- Utah institutions received over $93 million in federal global health research funding, supporting 1,500 jobs.
- Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, joined university, faith, business and nonprofit representatives at University of Utah.
When Americans think of Utah, they often think of our landscapes, entrepreneurial spirit, and tradition of faith and service. Less recognized is Utah’s emergence as an ecosystem of global health leadership.
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We got to see that leadership on display last month, when Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, joined representatives from Utah’s universities, faith communities, businesses, philanthropies and nonprofits at the University of Utah to discuss our state’s contributions and the future of American global health assistance.
The outcome was clear. Utah sets the example for how the U.S. can save lives while still advancing our interests and building a more effective and sustainable approach to global health.
What distinguishes Utah is not only one institution but an entire community of local organizations and businesses contributing and complementing each other’s strengths. In the realm of education, the University of Utah, Utah State University and Brigham Young University produce excellent health professionals, conduct vital research and find solutions to life-altering problems. Utah’s companies focused on life sciences advance diagnostics, medical devices and technologies that drastically improve the health of those here at home and around the world.
How we’re leading in global health
The state’s faith-based and philanthropic organizations only further extend this reach. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supports maternal and newborn care, including training health workers in essential services and neonatal resuscitation. The Salt Lake City-based nonprofit Kirk Humanitarian has helped provide multiple micronutrient supplements to more than 75 million pregnant women in over 100 countries. Its additional $50 million commitment through the UNICEF-led Child Nutrition Fund aims to reach a staggering 23 million more mothers and babies.
From advanced infectious-disease diagnostics to medical technologies used around the world, Utah’s companies are helping the U.S. mitigate global health challenges while making the state a hub of innovation. This also produces major economic growth. Utah’s 2026 Economic Report to the Governor counted nearly 40,000 life-sciences jobs, with estimates of 180,000 direct and indirect jobs, and $3.7 billion in annual wages in 2024, with job growth outpacing other Utah industries.
We need not choose between putting U.S. interests first and improving health worldwide.
Utah nonprofits are working at a global scale to deliver medical supplies, ensure access to clean water, improve nutrition and food security, and help the U.S. respond to emergencies around the world. From a federal government investment perspective, Utah institutions received more than $93 million, supporting over 1,500 jobs, to advance global health research and development from a local level with a global impact.
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Together, these efforts show what can happen when scientific expertise, entrepreneurial ingenuity, philanthropy and faith-based organizations reinforce one another’s efforts for a better cause.
The work being done in Utah is part of a bigger success story and a remarkable American achievement built by years of Republican and Democratic leaders across multiple administrations. Over the past 25 years, U.S. foreign-assistance programs have contributed to saving more than 90 million lives through maternal and child health, nutrition, vaccination, and infectious disease programs.
PEPFAR, created under President George W. Bush, has saved roughly 26 million lives. U.S.-supported malaria programs have helped prevent billions of infections. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has been a key player in this effort, immunizing more than 1 billion children. These efforts have strong support here at home, with 72% of Utah constituents supporting U.S. funding for global childhood immunization programs.
Leadership in global health is in our national interest
These are major humanitarian successes that we should be proud of. But American leadership in global health is also firmly in our national interest because, as we all know, diseases don’t stop at borders. Stronger surveillance and health systems abroad can help identify outbreaks before they become threats to American communities. Partnerships also play a role here by opening doors for American science and businesses, strengthening diplomatic relationships and demonstrating that the U.S. is a reliable and trustworthy leader.
Today, U.S. global health assistance is at a major crossroads. The Trump administration’s America First Global Health Strategy is a solution that ensures the adjustments needed for more effective foreign assistance. These include actions like measurable results, country co-investment and stronger ownership by partner governments. This framework offers an opening for Congress and the administration to construct a durable, bipartisan solution that promotes American leadership while utilizing the successes of older models.
- This framework prioritizes results while also strengthening accountability. Programs that save lives and protect Americans deserve continued support but must be paired with some assurances. Transparency, clear performance indicators, and independent evaluation are compelling tools and necessary upgrades. Any reform should improve on already successful programs, not disrupt essential services or discard partnerships that have taken decades of trust and investment to build.
- Make country ownership real and responsible. It’s important that partner countries finance and manage more of their own health services. Multiyear agreements are a helpful option for this as they offer achievable co-investment expectations, strengthen local health workforces and supply chains, and set clear transition goals.
- Bring more chairs to the table. U.S. agencies should tap the expertise at universities, companies, faith-based groups, philanthropies and capable local organizations to help them reach their goals. Smart public-private partnerships and innovative financing can stretch resources further, advance discoveries, and deliver even better outcomes. Utah’s network already illustrates how those relationships can work together. Now, the country has an opportunity to use this playbook.
Curtis’ engagement in our October gathering highlighted the importance of connecting decisions made on Capitol Hill with the people and institutions doing the important work across the country. In this moment of significant change in Washington, both parties have a chance to agree on a better path forward. America should remain a global health leader, even if we demand greater efficiency, shared responsibility and measurable impact. As Utah shows us, we need not choose between putting U.S. interests first and improving health worldwide. Done well, we believe each can strengthen the other.