Our Team
Mr. Negrette has more than 25 years of extensive international experience in health programs design, implementation and management. He has successfully directed health service delivery programs and commercial healthcare activities, and has structured and developed productive partnerships of strategic importance with relevant private sector companies and government entities, resulting in tangible improvement of the health and social conditions of communities and populations served.
Mr. Negrette has effectively adopted and adapted commercial tools, techniques and approaches to primary care programs in different parts of the world. He has also designed and implemented effective strategic health marketing and communication interventions in challenging environments in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Mr. Negrette is currently the Director of Global Health at the University of Utah.
Saria Novoa has 15+ years of international experience in humanitarian aid and development. She has collaborated with esteemed organizations such as Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontiers-MSF), International Medical Corps (IMC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Operation Smile, the British Red Cross, and LDS Family Services. Saria's work has taken her to diverse regions, including the Americas, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific, where she has coordinated large projects and teams and has provided crucial technical support for global health initiatives.
At the U of U, as a programs manager, Saria identifies, strategizes, and crafts global health grant proposals, with a particular focus on Global Health Security. She also identifies and nurtures strategic partnerships to amplify the impact of projects.
Saria holds an MSc in Public Health from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, and a BSc degree in Nursing from UFPS, Colombia. She is passionate about improving health systems worldwide, believing that this empowers individuals to achieve their full potential.
Gustavo da Silva serves as the Business Development Programs Manager at the University of Utah's Global Health Office, overseeing the planning, execution, and management of ongoing global health projects for U of U Health. Collaborating with internal departments and external partners, Gustavo ensures the smooth operation of the university's global initiatives. Gustavo conducts regular searches to identify funding opportunities for faculty members from institutions such as USAID, the U.S. State Department, and the CDC. He provides support in proposal writing, editing, and budgeting for potential projects and proposals. Gustavo is passionate about global health because he believes in the transformative power that University of Utah Health can provide on a global scale.
Gustavo was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and has called Salt Lake City, Utah his home since childhood. Gustavo is a proud University of Utah alum, where he earned his bachelor's degree in Urban Ecology and his Master of Science in International Affairs and Global Enterprise (MIAGE) degree from the University of Utah. He is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Global Health Board
The Global Health Board is the body that provides strategic guidance to the Office of Global Health. This board represents the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and provides broad oversight and support for University of Utah’s global health activities and programs across the health sciences community.
Chair:
Fiemu Nwariaku, MD, FACS, MBA - Chair, Department of Surgery, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine
Members:
Samuel Finalyson, MD, MPH, MBA - Associate Vice President for Clinical Affairs; Dean, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (interim); CEO, University of Utah Medical Group (interim)
Marla De Jong, PhD, RN, CCNS, FAAN - Dean, College of Nursing
Randall Petersen, PhD - Dean, College of Pharmacy
Robert Silver, MD - Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine
Yves Lussier, MD, FACMI, FAMIA - Chair, Department of Biomedical Informatics, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine
Randall Olsen, MD - Chair, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine; CEO, John A. Moran Eye Center
Women Leaders in Global Health
Women constitute about 70% of the global health workforce and deliver most of the unpaid health work. Yet only 25% of leadership roles in health are held by women. Given that the default health worker is a woman, the default health leader should be too. Furthermore, research consistently demonstrates that when women hold leadership positions, they become catalysts for positive change. They implement policies that improve the lives of families, communities, and nations. Additionally, they find ways to uplift and support women and children, who face a disproportionate burden of disease and mortality worldwide.
To cultivate and empower more leaders in global health, the Office of Global Health has initiated the Women Leaders in Global Health Task Force. This crucial initiative aims to amplify the voices of women leaders in global health, advancing their vision for a more just world.
We are a diverse group composed of faculty and administrators from all areas of work within University of Utah Health who meet once a month to discuss important issues and promote the work on Women Leaders within Global Health.
If you would like more information on how to join this important group please reach out to