Program Details

The WHO has identified four main goals for improving research in global health: strengthening the capacity of health research systems; developing standards of good research practice; translating evidence into practice; and meeting identified priority health needs (WHO 2012). Our Fellowship aims to address the WHO goals and our partners’ interests by enrolling LMIC academic clinicians in skill-based short courses or institutes, and by offering a lecture series aimed at developing leadership in biomedical research and mentorship. Importantly, this fellowship will also respond to the need for an improved culture of research mentorship in LMICs (Nakanjako D., Byakika-Kibwika P, et al., 2011). Specifically, Penn mentors will advise participants on best practices of incorporating students into the research process to train the next generation of LMIC health leaders.

Each summer, the Center for Global Health (CGH) implements a one-month, on-campus research training program with 4-6 fellows from affiliated partner LMIC institutions to develop emerging health leaders. CGH Summer Visiting Fellows participate in a short course or institute while at UPenn. Previous short courses and institutes fellows have participated in include: 

  • Implementation Science Institute
  • Introduction to Epidemiologic Research Methods
  • Clinical Trials and Translational Research
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Institue 

Our prospective applicants should consider and meet the following criteria.

  • Possession of an advanced degree such as an MD, Ph.D., or equivalent 
  • Hold an academic affiliation at a CGH-affiliated institution within their home country, see list below. 
  • Proficient in reading and writing of the English language
  • Receive a letter of support from your home institutions representative

During their time at UPenn, fellows will have the opportunity to learn more about the public health disparities in the United States. In addition to learning about public health disparities, the fellows will have the opportunity to visit several local organizations working to address health disparities and serve the under-resourced population in Philadelphia. Below is a list of several organizations that fellows have visited in the past. Please click on each of the following organizations to learn more about each one. 

When not participating in a short course or learning about healthcare disparities, our fellows are forging new partnerships here at UPenn. Fellows are matched with Penn faculty mentors with shared research interests and strengths to build networks with other researchers and institutional leaders. Throughout the fellowship, Penn mentors will provide skill-building sessions in effectively incorporating fellows into research studies by developing time-management strategies and clearly defining mentor/mentee roles in the relationship. The ultimate goal of our fellowship program is to position partners in LMICs to create and lead translational research efforts in health domains of importance to their countries.

In an effort to build upon and strengthen the fellow's research capacities. Summer fellows participate in short workshops such as

  • Data Visualization 
  • Research Poster Design 
  • Career Planning: Balancing Academics, Service, and Administration
  • Transparency of Reporting Research
  • Measurement, Reliability, and Validity
  • Evidence-Based Practice & Evidence Rating Systems