Center for
Global Health

Global Health Neurology is a signature program of Penn Neurology that launched from the Center for Global Health at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.  Their primary activities are divided into Education, Research, and Service and Clinical programs. The Program organizes Medical students and faculty for international rotations each year and Neurology continues to play a huge part in this program specifically in the region of Tanzania.

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CGH, in concert with the Penn Cardiovascular Medicine Division, has identified cardiology as a keystone global health initiative.  In that context the Center is engaged in a series of programs to develop cardiovascular (CV) diagnosis, treatment, longitudinal care and training programs at multiple international locations, with focal points based in Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico.

Led by Dr. Marietta Ambrose, Director of Penn Cardiology International (PCIL), our efforts at these locations seek to improve clinical care at hospitals and national capacity building.

Key focus areas in global CV care include:

• Refine development of CV clinical services via best practice and care guidelines and protocols, lab diagnostics, drug formularies and procurement and related technology development at US standards, but scaled to the local population needs and resources.
• Establishing innovative bidirectional CV training programs that utilize both traditional and modern virtual educational techniques. This serves as a foundation and base for nurturing physicians, physicians in training, nursing and other allied healthcare professionals with expertise in cardiology who will be located in their home locations.
• Developing research and monitoring protocols that track patient outcomes based on established standards of patient care and guidelines, to provide additional information on achieving metrics associated with desirable clinical outcomes and patient safety.
• Extend cardiology programs from central locations to additional urban and/or rural settings, as appropriate.

CARDIOLOGY INITIATIVES IN JAMAICA

PCIL has partnered with the Heart Institute of the Caribbean (HIC) in Jamaica. HIC was founded in 2004 by Dr Ernest Madu, an internationally recognized authority in CV medicine and innovative healthcare solutions, who has led multiple transformational health care projects that bridge gaps in access to quality health care delivery in Africa and the Caribbean. Prior to HIC’s inception, many patients in Jamaica, in need of a higher level of care for cardiovascular disease (CVD) had to travel at great expense to the USA or other countries with more developed health care infrastructure. HIC provides more advanced care for CVD, occupational health, diabetes care and general internal medicine in the West Indies, so patients can remain home while receiving this care. They also provide more than $1 million in free or reduced care to patients, a significant contribution in an area where 56% of hospital deaths are caused by CVD. PCIL delivers CME accredited advanced congestive heart failure (CHF) education and training to their cardiologists and staff. The goal is to create a robust advanced CHF program at HIC that can serve Jamaica and the larger Caribbean region’s clinical care, future research and education.

CARDIOLOGY INITIATIVES IN MEXICO

PCIL has partnered with the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Ignacio Chavez; also known as the National Institute of Cardiology of Mexico, and more informally called the Mexican Heart Institute. The Mexican Heart Institute was founded in 1944 by Dr. Ignacio Chavez. PCIL delivers advanced congestive heart failure (CHF) and cardiothoracic (CT) surgery education and training to their cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and staff. The goal is to create robust advanced CHF and CT surgery programs that focus on integrating state-of-the-art, novel device therapeutics, to improve clinical outcomes in patients who have failed recommended medical and pharmacologic therapeutic interventions. PCIL continues to investigate more partnerships in other Latin American countries while partnering locally with pediatric cardiologists and CT surgeons at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to address their more unique needs in projects related to pediatric cardiology and adult congenital heart disease.

CARDIOLOGY INITIATIVES IN HAITI

PCIL has partnered with the L’Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Haiti, one of 4 teaching hospitals with residency programs. Haiti is considered by the World Bank to be the “poorest country in the Latin America and Caribbean region and among the poorest countries in the world” and CVD accounts for 29% of all deaths. There are very few physicians and approximately 16 cardiologists serve a country of 11+ million people. Given the deficiency of cardiologists and training opportunities for Haitian physicians, in the setting of a high burden of CVD, Dr Norrisa Haynes has been addressing this disparity as a member of the PCIL team. Through her interests in global health activities and medical education, Dr Haynes previously lived in Haiti and was a staff physician at HUM. She has continued this relationship to help create an international, high-quality, sustainable and capacity-building cardiology curriculum for physicians in training, called ICARDS-HAITI. This unique educational collaboration benefits from a partnership between Haitian, American and French academic cardiologists in its design, development and implementation. Hence this curriculum was tailored to the unique needs of Haitian providers in a low-resource setting. This project continues to expand and now involves multiple other hospitals in Haiti, receives active participation from Haiti’s local community of cardiologists and the involvement of the Haitian society of cardiology. We plan to grow and diversify the curriculum to deliver more cardiology education and training in other areas of need.

CARDIOLOGY INITIATIVES IN VIETNAM

Although there are currently no active programs in Vietnam, PCIL has a large footprint in this country. PCIL was previously part of a larger effort to develop a regional center of excellence in CV medicine, intervention, and research. This involved creation of institutional-specific protocols, designing and creating optimal physical infrastructure for integrated multidisciplinary CV care, targeted, individualized CME certified education of health care providers with traditional, in person onsite and virtual educational methods including training courses. PCIL had staff cardiologists who were dedicated to this project, stationed onsite and based in Vietnam. The COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately affected this program, but we are keen to see what the future will bring.

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Despite a high global burden of skin disease, there is a critical shortage of dermatologists worldwide. Access to dermatologic care is particularly scarce in low-resource settings, where the confluence of infectious diseases including HIV, chronic inflammatory dermatoses, and cutaneous malignancy causes significant morbidity. With the support of the CGH, the Penn Department of Dermatology, the Kramer family, and other generous collaborators, faculty are working with partners in multiple sites to expand access to quality dermatologic care in vulnerable populations locally and abroad.  Key focus areas include: forming long-term partnerships, supporting local providers and systems, education and capacity building, direct patient care, research, and leveraging technology to decentralize care. 

Penn dermatology has been active in Botswana since Dr. Carrie Kovarik started the program in 2007.  In collaboration with the Botswana-UPenn Partnership and the Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr. Amy Forrestel, Dr. Tori Williams, and Dr. Kovarik have worked to assist in running the dermatology clinic at the central government tertiary hospital, expand outreach clinics, create teledermatology networks, train local students and providers, and create a sustainable local dermatology team.  Drs. Kovarik, Forrestel, and Williams are also the directors of the American Academy of Dermatology’s Resident International Grant, which began in 2008, and funds educational exchanges with partner institutions in Botswana, South Africa, Nepal, and Peru.      

In Peru, Dr. Rudolf Roth has with the Gorgas Memorial Institute of the University of Alabama, the Alexander von Humboldt Tropical Medicine Institute, and the Dermatology Department of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia to develop the Gorgas Course in Tropical Dermatology. This week-long course is designed to teach providers from around the world about tropical dermatology. In Guatemala, Dr. Roth has worked with the Penn-Guatemala Health initiative and colleagues from the Instituto de Dermatología y Cirugía de Piel (INDERMA) to build a residency exchange program. In Haiti, Dr. Roth helped create an agreement between Penn and the state hospital in Port-au-Prince (Hôpital d l'Universite d'Etat d'Haiti) that allows bilateral exchange of any department, including dermatology.

Finally, the department is dedicated to educating Penn residents in global health dermatology. In the formal residency track “Global and Community Health,” residents are able to learn about and participate in caring for vulnerable populations through a structured curriculum involving clinical rotations, lectures, and mentorship.

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Penn’s Department of Emergency Medicine (EM) strives to be leaders in generating new approaches to improving patient outcomes. They are proud of the deeply collaborative and impactful work led by the physician-scientists in the department. Penn EM has a broad research portfolio spanning translational resuscitation science, health policy, economics, toxicology, and ultrasound, as well as social media.

In recent years Penn EM has invested heavily in expanding its global reach, one such effort has been the establishment of the Penn Global Emergency Medicine (PGEM) Fellowship, which seeks to prepare leaders in the field of Global Emergency Medicine in emergency care systems development and education. Beyond the establishment of the PGEM Fellowship, Penn EM faculty and collaborators have worked in countries such as Ghana, Pakistan, Guatemala, and Nepal, providing clinical care, establishing training programs to meet local needs, and preparing healthcare providers to respond to emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Penn’s Department of Genetics is at the forefront of genetic research and advancements in health. The Department of Genetics among many others work with The Penn Center for Global Genomics & Health Equity. Whose mission is to promote health equity through global genomics research, education, policy, and practice.  The purpose of the Penn Center for Global Genomics and Health Equity is to facilitate understanding of genetic and environmental factors influencing health disparities in the US and across the globe through interdisciplinary collaborations, partnerships, and education. These findings will be translated into public policy and clinical practice to promote health equity.

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The Penn ID Division is recognized for excellence in clinical care, research, and education. The expertise of the Division's faculty is complementary to our strong inpatient and outpatient programs in HIV medicine; infections in solid organ and bone marrow transplant recipients; healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship; antimicrobial resistance; viral hepatitis; tuberculosis; travel medicine; and global health.  In addition, our faculty are nationally and internationally renowned leaders in scientific investigation including bench science, translational and epidemiologic research, clinical trials, health policy, and public health.  Our faculty are also known for their teaching excellence, traditionally capturing numerous School of Medicine teaching awards each year. In addition, the success of our faculty is recognized by the fact that numerous individuals hold leadership positions within national and international organizations, guidelines panels, and scientific committees. While most faculty members are based in Philadelphia, many are also based abroad, primarily within the Botswana-University of Pennsylvania Partnership, a unique multi- and inter-disciplinary clinical and research collaboration.

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Center for Global Oncology

The Penn Center for Global Oncology (CGO), a key initiative of the Center for Global Health (CGH), addresses the rising global cancer burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Led by co-directors Dr. Surbhi Grover and Dr. Larry Shulman, CGO focuses on improving cancer outcomes through research, education, and strategic partnerships. The center works seamlessly with the Abramson Cancer Center, Penn’s Department of Hematology and Oncology, the Department of Radiation Oncology, and international organizations such as Partners in Health and the World Health Organization.

CGO’s initiatives include:

• Strengthening healthcare delivery systems by developing care guidelines, lab diagnostics, drug procurement processes, and scalable technologies tailored to local needs.
• Advancing research on cancer types influenced by genetic and environmental factors unique to specific regions.
• Expanding oncology programs from central urban locations to rural and underserved areas.
• Building capacity through educational programs for students, trainees, and faculty in oncology.

With active programs in Botswana, Rwanda, and Guatemala, CGO exemplifies Penn’s commitment to global health by providing evidence-based care, fostering oncology expertise in local communities, and collaborating with partners to drive impactful, sustainable improvements in cancer care.

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Clinical Care

The Center for Global Health (CGH) and the Abramson Cancer Center prioritize oncology as a cornerstone of their global health initiatives, focusing on enhancing clinical care in Botswana, Rwanda, and Guatemala. These programs aim to strengthen oncology diagnosis, treatment, and longitudinal care.

• Botswana: In collaboration with the Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness and the University of Botswana, Penn supports clinical care initiatives at Princess Marina Hospital, the nation’s largest tertiary public hospital. Dr. Surbhi Grover, head of oncology, has led the establishment of evidence-based care protocols, follow-up clinics for gynecological cancer patients, and solutions for chemotherapy stockouts and diagnostic delays.
• Rwanda: At the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence, established with Partners in Health, efforts include developing pathology services to reduce diagnostic delays, establishing referral systems, and providing high-quality cancer care to over 1,500 patients annually. Community outreach empowers rural populations through screenings and health education.
• Guatemala: Efforts focus on developing community-based oncology services tailored to local needs.

Education

Education is central to CGH's mission to build local capacity for oncology care:

• Bidirectional Training: Programs in Botswana and Rwanda train nurses and physicians in oncology, equipping them with skills to serve their home regions.
• Residency and Rotation Programs: Penn collaborates with the University of Botswana School of Medicine to enhance its residency program and offers a rotation for U.S. radiation oncology residents, allowing them to gain global health experience while providing clinical care.
• Workforce Development: At Butaro Cancer Center, Penn partners with Harvard and Dartmouth to train Rwandan healthcare professionals, including physicians, residents, and nurses, on best practices in oncology.
• Mentorship and Research Training: Junior faculty and trainees receive mentorship in oncology research methods, supported by Penn faculty who serve as adjuncts at the University of Botswana.

Technical Support

CGH provides technical expertise to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and develop sustainable oncology programs:

• Botswana: Penn oncology faculty assist the Ministry of Health and Princess Marina Hospital in crafting care guidelines for the top 10 cancers, addressing drug procurement challenges, and supporting the development of a new radiation oncology facility.
• Rwanda: CGH supports the establishment of a pathology lab at the Butaro Cancer Center, significantly reducing diagnostic wait times. Technical input also aids the Ministry of Health’s broader efforts to expand cancer services nationwide.
• Global Initiatives: Across all locations, CGH facilitates the creation of clinical service guidelines, drug formularies, and scaled technologies tailored to local populations while maintaining high-quality standards.

By integrating clinical care, education, and technical support, CGH’s oncology initiatives address critical gaps and improve cancer outcomes in underserved regions.

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At Penn Radiology, we understand there is a lot to be learned from our colleagues all over the world and are therefore committed to the bidirectional exchange of educational content and collaborative research with the intent to build local capacity and ensure long-term sustainability in low-resource settings. We are excited to collaborate on global healthcare solutions that are designed based on local needs and are respectful of local culture and ethics.

Our radiology residency program has developed a global health leadership track, at the core of which is the long-standing Botswana-UPenn Partnership, but has grown to include collaboration with other organizations such as RAD-AID International. We are proud to have the support of PSOM Center for Global Health.

In the spirit of education and capacity building, we developed an international case competition; a platform for our trainees in low- and middle-income countries to present interesting cases, unique to their regions, to a global audience, and potentially win prize money.

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The Penn Global Women’s Health Fellowship is a two-year fellowship under Fellowship Director and CGH Scholar, Victoria Mui, designed to train experts in global women’s health, specifically in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Our program focuses on addressing health disparities in maternal health, women’s preventative health and surgical services through partnerships with local and international organizations to advance a sustainable model of health care. These exchanges will provide core education in selected topic fields including clinical care and policy development, implementation sciences, epidemiology and health outcomes research, molecular and genomic medicine, etc. 

Program graduates are expected to develop the foundation for sustainable careers in global health through a combination of global immersion experiences, course work and research projects targeted to the acquisition of relevant skill sets, and through dissemination of scholarly work. At the completion of training, fellows will be prepared to launch and sustain an academic career in global women’s health.

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