It was first announced under the leadership of Greg Martin[9][2][10][11] (then at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) and Derek Yach (Yale University).

[14][15] Beginning in 2013, Martin was joined by guest editors for a thematic series of issues focusing on global health systems and lessons from low and middle-income countries.

[17] By 2022, the editors in chief were Greg Martin (Ireland), Ronald Labonté (Canada), and Katerini Storeng (Norway).

[17] Globalization affects individual and population health in multiple ways, requiring societies to adapt.

Processes of global change shape determinants of health including lifestyle, employment, housing, education, and sanitation.