Alumni Spotlight: Leading on a global stage
From Michigan to Brussels: Jasmina Cunmulaj’s inspiring public health journey
By Bob Cunningham
Photos by Marco Valmarana
Ever since her time at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Jasmina Cunmulaj, MPH ’22, envisioned being able to influence policy decisions and promote better global public health practices at an impactful level.
Now, as the strategic partnerships and leadership manager at the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA), she is positioned to make those dreams a reality.
Cunmulaj attributes much of her success to her educational experiences at Michigan Public Health and the unique challenges she faced growing up as a first-generation American from an Albanian minority family originally from Montenegro.
She has always aspired to help those in need, especially those from marginalized communities, and those seeds were planted at a young age.
Her journey from a small, tight-knit community in Southeast Michigan to an influential post in Brussels reflects her determination and commitment to make a difference on the world’s stage.
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It was difficult for me to understand why children my age in Montenegro didn’t have the same access to healthcare that I had in the US.”
Early life and education
Cunmulaj grew up in Novi, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. She would spend each summer in Montenegro, where she first observed the disparities in healthcare access between the United States and her mother’s homeland.
“It was difficult for me to understand why children my age in Montenegro didn’t have the same access to healthcare that I had in the US,” she said.
These observations fueled her growing interest in public health.
She received a dual bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature and Developmental Psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy. A key turning point, however, came when a professor suggested she explore a career in public health, recognizing her passion for community health and policy change.
In 2022, Cunmulaj earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Behavior & Health Education (now Health Behavior & Health Equity) and a Certificate in Global Public Health from Michigan Public Health. She was supported by the Gelman Global Scholarship and Florence and Irving Zeitz Social Justice Internship funds.
Path to public health
Cunmulaj’s public health journey was shaped by her experiences and the challenges she witnessed both at home and abroad.
“Public health is about equity and ensuring everyone has the same access to healthcare, regardless of their background,” she said.
As a student, she was actively involved in the McAuley Health Center in Detroit, where she worked on prevention programs and mental health interventions. These experiences, combined with her academic training, solidified her commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting equity.
After graduating, Cunmulaj set her sights on Europe, determined to bring her passion for public health to an international stage. Always ambitious, she traveled to London; Oxford, England; and Venice, Italy; as a student to explore potential PhD programs and make professional connections.
Her break came when she started working for the WHO European Regional Office on the Youth4Health Initiative as the main rapporteur for its first-ever event, held in Tirana, Albania. The event gathered young stakeholders, aiming to place youth health and well-being at the forefront of the European agenda.
“This was a true ‘full circle’ moment for me, starting off my professional career as a young person with WHO and in the Western Balkans,” she said.
This role paved the way to her position with the WHO European Office for Investment for Health and Development in Venice and then working on the Health in the Well-Being Economy Initiative.
“It felt surreal to be working on such a significant project so early in my career,” she said of the opportunity that opened doors to other influential roles.
Her work with WHO involved understanding how health and well-being could be integrated into economic decisions, emphasizing the importance of public health in broader policy discussions. This experience solidified her belief in the power of evidence-based strategies and community-oriented interventions.
Following her stint with WHO, Cunmulaj joined EPHA, Europe’s largest civil society platform of organizations working together to protect and improve public health within the continent. From Brussels, she manages strategic partnerships and focuses on advocating for policies that promote public health across Europe.
Her role involves supporting the director general and extensive collaboration with WHO and other health organizations, ensuring that health equity remains a priority on the global agenda.
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Impact on global health
Cunmulaj’s commitment to global health was further highlighted by her participation in the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in New York.
Representing EPHA, she advocated for comprehensive actions to tackle AMR, a pressing public health issue responsible for nearly 5 million deaths annually.
“At the UNGA, it was crucial to ensure that the voices of NGOs and civil society—often overlooked in high-level settings—were present at the decision-making table,” she said.
Cunmulaj and her colleagues pushed for a “one health” approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health.
The meeting concluded with the first-ever global targets to reduce AMR-related deaths by 10% by 2030.
“This is a pivotal step forward, but the real challenge lies in translating policy into practice and ensuring civil society remains an active partner in these efforts,” she said.
She then lent her voice to the second annual Conference on Health Literacy and Human Rights for the Council of Europe in December in Rome. She served on the Pathways to Promote Inclusion and Combat Discrimination in Health Panel, discussing the organization’s efforts to address health disparities in Europe.
Cunmulaj advocated for the people in public health by focusing on clusters such as health equity and digital transformation, emphasizing the critical role of health literacy in combating racism and discrimination, which are fundamental determinants of health.
“Addressing health inequities and improving health literacy is not the work of any one sector or nation alone,” she said. “It demands collective, sustained effort that transcends borders—because only together can we shape a healthier, more equitable future for all.”
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Addressing health inequities and improving health literacy is not the work of any one sector or nation alone. It demands collective, sustained effort that transcends borders—because only together can we shape a healthier, more equitable future for all.”
Looking forward
Despite her early accomplishments, Cunmulaj remains focused on her long-term goals.
She dreams of returning to Montenegro and establishing a clinic and healthcare initiatives for underserved communities.
“I want to create something that fills the healthcare gaps I saw as a child, ensuring that everyone—especially minorities—has access to quality healthcare,” Cunmulaj said.
She is also driven by a broader vision of bridging the gap between the Western Balkans and the rest of Europe.
“The Western Balkans need to be integrated into the European health agenda,” Cunmulaj said. “It’s about bringing equity to regions that have been left behind.”
As a first-generation student, she understands the unique challenges faced by those from marginalized backgrounds.
“First-generation students know what it means to pursue equity because we’ve lived through it,” she said.
Whether through her work with EPHA, her advocacy at global forums or her plans to improve healthcare in Montenegro, Cunmulaj is committed to ensuring that equity remains at the heart of public health.
Her journey is far from over, but her impact is already being felt around the world.
“Public health is about more than just policies and programs,” she said. “It’s about making a real difference in people’s lives.”
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