GHC expands to support 70 emerging leaders in 2011-2012 fellowship class

Global Health Corps is expanding this year to support 70 emerging leaders in their 2011-2012 fellowship class. Applications for placements in Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and the USA are now open at www.apply.ghcorps.org. GHC is seeking applicants with diverse skill-sets from areas that are often viewed as outside of the traditional health workforce—managers, communicators, architects, computer scientists, supply chain analysts and other exceptional young people from disciplines important to building strong health systems.

"The complexity and scope of today's challenges requires people with diverse skills from a wide range of fields beyond medicine. To truly shift the tide of global health challenges, we need to engage young leaders from all backgrounds," Barbara Bush, co-founder and CEO said.

Global Health Corps aims to mobilize a global community of emerging leaders to build the movement for global health equity. GHC does this by providing young leaders yearlong paid fellowships with outstanding organizations working on the frontlines of the fight for global health equity.

GHC currently has 36 fellows working in Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and the United States. Fellows work on projects ranging from developing electronic medical record systems in Malawi, to counseling homeless youth in New Jersey, to constructing a world-class hospital in rural Rwanda. AmeetSalvi, a GHC fellow who previously managed supply chains for the Gap used his skills to upgrade the drug supply chain in Tanzania. Following his fellowship, Ameet continues to work in underserved communities in East Africa.

GHC fellows Isaac Mutabazi (Rwandan) and Ian Mountjoy (American) celebrated their work on the opening of the new Butaro Hospital in Rwanda last week (Jan 24) with the Rwandan Ministry of Health and Partners in Health. PIH commended the fellows' work as they "elaborated a procurement & logistics manual, structured the procurement department, and carried out a $1.4 million procurement of medical equipment & furniture for a district hospital." As fellows, Isaac and Ian worked with architects and medical providers to direct the procurement of all medical equipment and supplies to ensure the hospital could provide quality health services to the community. "The quality of [the fellows'] work was wonderful, enthusiastic, and fruitful," according to staff at PIH.

Ian commented on his GHC fellowship, "I feel incredibly fortunate to have been involved in this project that's not only going to provide a whole new level of care to 400,000 poor Rwandans who otherwise had no hospital, but that's also raising the standards of rural sub-Saharan hospitals more broadly, serving as a model that can and should be replicated widely." After their fellowship, Ian continues to work with PIH while Isaac now oversees the construction and rehabilitation of health centers across the entire country in his new position within the Rwandan Ministry of Health.