The Latest News from VIGH

The Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health Student Advisory Council (SAC) is a student-led organization that brings together diverse students interested in global health with the goal of fostering cross-disciplinary student networking and collaboration. Although networking and collaboration often occur in person, this year, council leaders pivoted two key events to be held online. They welcomed a record attendance of Vanderbilt students, staff, faculty, and community members engaged in global health.

In academia, mentors can provide valuable support and guidance to students in their professional and personal development. However, often mentors do not receive training in theories and practical strategies that could improve their mentorship. Faculty leaders at the University of Zambia (UNZA) are changing this trend to offer training in mentorship theory and effective techniques for faculty in masters and doctoral programs.

Current and future faculty leaders at the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Mulungushi University are benefitting from a training program that promotes effective leadership and management in education and healthcare by guiding trainees to strengthen their competencies in effectively leading teams. The Strengthening Health Professional Workforce Education Programs for Improved Quality Health Care in Zambia (SHEPIZ) Leadership and Management Program was developed by faculty and students from UNZA, Mulungushi University, and the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH). Drs.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021! We celebrate this year's Master of Public Health, Global Health Track students and recipients of the Graduate Certificate in Global Health. Class of 2021 Global Health MPH and Certificate Graduates

Effective teaching, mentorship, and leadership skills are essential for faculty success in academic medicine, but these skills are rarely taught in medical school and residency training programs, particularly in low-resource settings. To address this gap among anesthesia educators in Ethiopia, a 13-week course was developed and piloted in a virtual platform from September 2020-January 2021.

At the end of March, the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health received a long-awaited message from Liberia – the 40-foot shipping container of medical books and other laboratory equipment donated by the Vanderbilt School of Medicine had survived it’s journey across the ocean and arrived at its final destination, the University of Liberia. The letter signaled the end of a nearly year-long donation effort at Vanderbilt and the beginning of new opportunities for current and future medical students in Liberia.

"Mentors are teachers but not all teachers are mentors." Lackson Kasonka, Senior Mentor The next generation of global health researchers, scientists and practitioners are benefiting from a mentoring program at the University of Zambia (UNZA) in Lusaka with the help of colleagues from the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health (VIGH) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with support from the Fogarty International Center.

VIGH faculty and staff members won the 1st place blue ribbon for their poster, "Strengthening Global Health Medical Education through Multi-Modal Curriculum" at the 2017 Gerald S. Gotterer Health Professions Education Research Day (HPERD) on October 30.