For the whole article visit: http://cgiu.clintonglobalinitiative.org/Page.aspx?pid=3814.
Every year, over one million people fall into poverty due to the catastrophic costs of health care. Meanwhile, both high- and low-income countries are seeing health care disparities grow. Dave Ryan, a Stanford University graduate and former CEO of FACEAIDS, proposed a commitment at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative University Annual Meeting that will address both of these pressing issues.
He created Global Health Corps (GHC), an organization that allows recent college graduates from the U.S. and abroad to serve in paid, year-long fellowships to improve health care for poor and marginalized communities. This year, GHC placed 22 fellows in Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. The teams of fellows will work with existing health organizations to address health inequity problems at the local level.
CGI U recently had the opportunity to interview Ryan to learn more about his commitment.
Q: Can you describe how the fellowship program works?
RYAN: GHC will recruit skilled cross-cultural fellowship teams, comprised of one American and one in-country fellow. We will train the fellows in language, culture, and basic epidemiology to enhance their technical skills, and then place teams with organizations to work for one year.
The year-long commitment allows organizations to offer fellows significant roles and responsibilities within their programs. Fellows must commit enough time to understand the organizations and environments where they are working, and then to achieve lasting and substantial outcomes. And it helps ensure that the fellowship experience is inspiring for the fellows, as they will see first-hand the impact they can make combating difficult challenges.
Furthermore, all fellows work within existing teams, on specific assignments which the fellows are specifically chosen to do. By following this process, Global Health Corps fellows are well-situated to make an effective contribution during their terms, and as a result to leave their terms inspired to do more.
Q. What need are these fellows filling in the field of international health?
RYAN: There is a need for skilled professionals who can provide the services necessary to build and implement effective health systems. The young leaders who participate in Global Health Corps have experience in a range of fields, including technology, supply chain management, monitoring and evaluation, and program consulting. We place them in organizations where they can implement innovative strategies to build effective health systems. We also nurture them so they can explore careers in the health care field that fit their skills.
And, by building cross-cultural fellowship teams, Global Health Corps is developing local skills and capacity. The in-country fellows can continue serving their communities throughout their lives.
Q: What happens once the fellows leave their site?
A: Once fellows finish their year-long placements, they re-convene for a post-field reflection, in which the community reports on lessons learned and perceived successes and failures. The fellows also meet with potential future employers and leaders in the health field. Then, fellows will enter the Global Health Corps Alumni network, and we will work to support all alumni in their efforts to continue contributing to global health throughout their careers.
The true power of the Global Health Corps will lie in this alumni network. As the Global Health Corps grows and its alumni network expands, it will compose a pipeline of young leaders for the global health equity movement, and play a central role in sustaining and consistently reinvigorating this movement for change.
In 10 and 20 years, in addition to seeing thousands of young people working in the Corps each year, we will see leaders throughout the world in the business, public service, and health communities who can draw upon their experience in the Global Health Corps to help push for better and more equitable health outcomes throughout the world.
Q: Do you foresee any challenges or difficulties?
A: We know the demand is incredibly strong among young people, in the United States and around the world, for opportunities to build careers fighting for global health equity. At the same time, we know that the demand is strong from organizations for outstanding young leaders to support their operations. If we can overcome the challenge of raising the necessary funds to support an increasing number of fellowships, we believe we can play a major role in helping to build this movement.
Also to come, GHC is being featured in the Feb 1 issue of Glamour. Why Glamour? Check out the slideshow...I think we're pretty glamorous.
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