In a world of escalating violent conflicts, forced displacement, and the targeting of healthcare infrastructure, the protection of health has never been more urgent—or more complex. Hospitals bombed in war zones, health workers threatened for providing care, and communities deprived of essential medical services are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a global crisis. Against this backdrop, the 2026 Global Health Summer School invites participants to explore the question: How can health professionals move from merely responding to crises to actively building peace?

Why This Matters Now
The deliberate targeting of healthcare is not a new phenomenon, but its increasing frequency and normalization demand immediate action. Across Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and beyond, attacks on healthcare have become a defining feature of contemporary warfare — turning hospitals into battlegrounds and health workers into casualties for fulfilling their ethical duties. Meanwhile, the long-term effects of structural violence, such as racism, gender discrimination, and economic exploitation, continue to shape who suffers, who survives, and who thrives.

These intertwined crises can seem overwhelming, yet they also reveal the profound influence of those working within them. Health professionals are uniquely positioned to bridge divides, advocate for vulnerable communities, and model alternatives to violence. From documenting human rights abuses to mediating conflicts in clinical settings, from designing inclusive health policies to supporting survivors of trauma, their role extends far beyond medical treatment. Medical peace work offers a framework for harnessing this potential; one that centers human rights, intersectionality, and the radical idea that health is both a means and an end in the pursuit of peace.

What to expect
The summer school opens with a one-day conference on “Attacks on Healthcare,” featuring lectures and workshops by researchers, frontline health professionals, and experts from humanitarian and advocacy fields. Participants will engage in critical reflection and exchange on the targeting of healthcare and share perspectives on resistance, protection, and solidarity. The conference also offers space to connect with a diverse network of professionals and activists across disciplines (and regions).

After the conference, the program continues with the summer school, where we deepen our shared exploration of the intersections between health, violence, and peace, with a special focus on medical peace work. Rooted in a transdisciplinary approach that draws on human rights, feminist ethics, and decolonial thought, the program links healthcare with conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and community empowerment. Together, we will critically examine how wars, including nuclear war, structural violence, and systemic inequalities shape health outcomes, and how health professionals and health systems can respond. We will also look to places of resistance, empowerment, solidarity, and healing, and develop practical skills in our profession and activism through workshops, case studies, and participatory methods.

We believe in learning with and from each other. The summer school brings together students, activists, and young professionals from diverse backgrounds to share expertise, build connections, and strengthen collective agency. Our process-oriented approach allows time for reflection, emotional engagement, and skill-building— acknowledging that personal and professional growth are intertwined. The week-long programme is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to integrate medical peace work into their practice.