The Fogarty International Center (FIC) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces the first recipients of the Fogarty-Ellison Fellowship in Global Health and Clinical Research.
This new program provides early career opportunities for U.S. and developing country graduate students in the health professions to participate in one year of mentored clinical research at an NIH-funded research center in a developing country. It pairs the U.S. students with students from the host country, creating partnerships and contributing to building a new international community of research scholars. FIC, The Ellison Medical Foundation and NIH's National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities support the fellowship program jointly. The Association of American Medical Colleges and the Association of Schools of Public Health provide critical support for the effort at all stages of recruitment, review and matching.
Twenty fellows from 16 U.S. medical schools and one school of public health were selected from a pool of 77 highly qualified U.S. applicants in the first annual competition. Six are pursuing dual degree programs (MPH or Ph.D.). Sixteen foreign fellows at similar points in their careers have been identified. Selection of fellows was based on academic excellence, aptitude for clinical research, career interest in global health, and personal qualities.
In commending the new fellows, the Secretary for Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson, said, "I am so proud of the commitment that these young people are making, and I am delighted that my Department has played a critical role in bringing this program into existence. It is my hope and expectation that these talented young people will use this opportunity not only to gain experience in clinical research but also to build lasting professional relationships and friendships."
Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, Acting Director of the Fogarty International Center, added, "The needs for training in clinical research in the United States and developing countries are significant. We hope that hands-on experience in conducting research in a developing country, and a first hand knowledge of the conditions and challenges facing those who live in parts of the world where disease burdens are highest, will encourage these young people to pursue careers in clinical research in areas related to global health."
The 14 institutions that met stringent criteria for research training and were selected for the initial fellowship year are located in: Botswana, Brazil, Haiti, India (2), Kenya, Mali, Peru (2), South Africa (2), Thailand, Uganda, and Zambia. Additional sites will be added in the coming years.
"As we work to engage the best and brightest minds to address global health challenges facing all of us, we see clearly that U.S. minority students and other under-represented groups need to be part of the process," said John Ruffin, Ph.D, Director of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD). With that, NCMHD and FIC have agreed to partner, on a two-year pilot basis, on key initiatives of joint interest. "I am pleased that the Fogarty-Ellison Fellowship Program is one of these initiatives."