Global Health Institute Celebrates the 2024-2025 Cohort Global Health Student Fellows
The 2024-2025 Global Health Student Fellows recently presented the groundbreaking, hands-on projects they developed over the past year at an end-of-year poster presentation. Representing seven different Georgetown University schools, the fellows demonstrated the program’s interdisciplinary approach through their collaboration with faculty from across the university.
Since its launch in 2017, the Global Health Student Fellows program, coordinated by the Georgetown University Global Health Institute, has welcomed nearly 200 students from 30 nationalities. The 2024-2025 cohort, comprising 27 fellows, is the program’s largest to date and the first to span a full academic year.
Throughout the year, fellows work closely with a faculty mentor to design global health projects focused on research, policy, or direct impact. They also participate in monthly meetings with senior faculty and global health leaders to discuss pressing issues and reflect on the shared values guiding their work.
Poster Presentation Highlights
The poster presentation marked the culmination of the fellows’ experience, where they were challenged to present their work in just two minutes. The exercise was designed to replicate real-world scenarios where conveying complex information quickly and effectively is essential.
In his remarks, Deus Bazira, DrPH, MPH, MBA, director of the Global Health Institute and the Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, encouraged fellows to carry the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration forward.
“Health challenges, even at the global level, cannot be solved by one discipline alone. Learning to work across fields will benefit you throughout your career,” he said.
A review committee composed of Christopher Loffredo, Ph.D., director of the Office for Global Oncology and a professor of oncology and biostatistics; Katherine Marshall, M.A., MPA, a professor of the practice at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service; and Amna Qayyum, Ph.D., research program director of the Faith and Global Health Initiative, recognized several fellows for their work.
Celebrating Standout Projects
Elisabeth Point Du Jour, a master’s degree student in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, received the award for Best Final Presentation for her project on enhancing maternal health in Zanzibar. Under the mentorship of School of Nursing Assistant Professor Christina X. Marea, Ph.D., Point Du Jour evaluated an antenatal care program at six clinics and found that training significantly increased facilitators’ confidence in providing essential services.
“Improving maternal health is not just about top-down programs,” Point Du Jour said. “It requires equity-centered, bottom-up partnerships that involve and empower local communities.”
Runners-up included Alyssa Miller, a master’s degree student in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and Jaskeerat Thakral, an undergraduate student in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Miller, who worked with Matthew Kavanagh, Ph.D., director of the Georgetown University Center for Global Health Policy and Politics, studied the effectiveness of public health policies during disease outbreaks. Identifying ineffective policies and their social costs is equally important, she noted, to ensure public health responses serve the greater good.
Thakral, mentored by Bazira, focused on strengthening health care systems for children in underserved regions through the Pope’s Global Alliance. “Because of this experience, I want to work on international health development projects that rely on cross-sector collaboration, coordination, and data-driven strategy,” she said, describing her role in advancing equitable health care for children as “a small but meaningful contribution.”
New Award Recognizes Exceptional Engagement
This year, the Global Health Institute introduced the Outstanding Student Fellow Award to recognize fellows who demonstrated exceptional engagement and impact throughout the program. Recipients were selected based on faculty recommendations, the quality of their presentations, and overall participation.
The inaugural recipients were Jasnoor Anand, a master’s degree student in the McCourt School of Public Policy mentored by Phyllis Magrab, Ph.D., a UNESCO-endowed professor of pediatrics, and Jackson Wu, a master’s degree student in the Walsh School of Foreign Service, mentored by Andrés Constantin, SJD, assistant director of health law programs at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.
“This fellowship has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey at Georgetown,” said Anand, who mapped university faculty working on child immunization, particularly in conflict settings. “I saw how individuals from different fields each hold a piece of the puzzle. When those pieces align, real and lasting change becomes possible.”
Wu analyzed the limitations of international law in safeguarding the right to health, noting that while the law holds noble intentions, it often fails to meet the needs it aims to address.
“This recognition inspires me to embrace future challenges and give them my fullest effort,” Wu said.
Applications Opening for the Next Cohort
Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort will open later this summer. Full-time Georgetown undergraduate and graduate students interested in global health are encouraged to apply. Faculty interested in partnering with the program can learn more by visiting the program website.
