Celebrating the 2024-2025 Cohort
With 27 participants, the 2024-2025 cohort was not only the largest in the program's history but also the first to run across the full academic year.
Overview
This past year reminded us of the ever-changing landscape of global health. Through innovation, we turned challenges into opportunities.
We celebrated the accomplishments of the 2024-2025 Global Health Student Fellows, the largest cohort in our program’s history, and welcomed the 2025-2026 cohort, composed of students from five schools and 15 programs across the university. Our alumni shared news of prestigious achievements, including earning the Fulbright-Nehru Research Award and being appointed as a justice of the High Court of Ghana.
We hosted nearly a dozen Global Health Seminars where members of the global health community at Georgetown presented ongoing research related to topics such as antimicrobial resistance in Rwanda and live cancer risks in Thailand.
We welcomed distinguished guests, including Vice President and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Botswana Ndaba Gaolathe and Minister of Health for Northern Ireland Mike Nesbitt.
We launched a new partnership to transform the capacity of Africa’s private sector to support the health sector between Georgetown University and the African Union Development Agency - New Partnership for Africa’s Development. The Collaborating Center for Health Market Development in Africa represents the first partnership of its kind between an African Union agency and an international academic institution.
We also launched the Georgetown-Lancet Commission on Faith, Trust, and Health, the flagship project of our Faith and Global Health Initiative. The commission convened its first meeting in Istanbul, published a commentary in The Lancet, and launched a webinar series featuring global experts, including Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet.
We welcomed Nalini Anand, J.D., MPH, as managing director, a lawyer and global health expert with decades of experience shaping global health policy and research initiatives, including leadership roles at the Fogarty International Center.
Looking ahead, we will build on this momentum by hosting the next meeting of the commission in Cape Town, South Africa, supporting two additional projects through the Catalytic Incubator, and continuing to shape the broader strategy of the Faith and Global Health Initiative. We also look forward to introducing Global Health Day, a new campus-wide convening to reflect on shared priorities in global health. Finally, in collaboration with our partners across the university, we will strengthen our overall strategy by reflecting on our vision and mission.
Students
Our current and past fellows engaged in international and local projects, earned prestigious awards, and assumed leadership roles.
Global Health Student Fellows
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Earning an Honorable Mention in the Untold Global Health Stories of 2025 Contest
Nina Chereath (G’25), a 2024-2025 Global Health Student Fellow, focused her submission on hikikomori, a severe form of social withdrawal affecting over half a million adolescents and young adults in Japan.
Receiving the Fulbright-Nehru Research Award
Ajay Nathan (SFS’25), a 2024-2025 Global Health Student Fellow, will spend nine months in India examining how telemedicine could expand access to hospice and palliative care.
Serving as a Justice of the High Court of Ghana
Bedima Duut (LL.M.’24), a fall 2023 Global Health Student Fellow, was appointed by President John Mahama to serve on the country’s third-highest court.
Introducing the 2025-2026 Cohort
Selected from a highly competitive pool of more than 100 applicants, the 21 fellows represent five different schools and 15 programs across Georgetown University.
Maeve Kennedy McKean Global Health Award
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Presenting at the 2025 Global Social Justice Research Symposium
Amara Saleem (SFS’26) traveled to Karachi to examine barriers faced by low-income women managing gestational diabetes. Her fieldwork illuminated gaps in care and pathways toward more equitable maternal health delivery.
Introducing the 2025-2026 Award Recipients
Jordan Pai (H’27) will study health equity and access to running in Iten, Kenya, under the mentorship of Emily Mendenhall. Kayla Wontumi (H’27) will study maternal health in Zanzibar, Tanzania, under the mentorship of Christina Marea.
Interdisciplinary Experiences
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Advocating for Global Health Funding on Capitol Hill
Several Global Health Student Fellows joined residents from the MedStar Health-Georgetown University Global Health Equity Track to advocate for federal funding for global health training in medical residency programs.
Earning the Harrison C. Spencer Interprofessional Prize at the 2025 DC Public Health Case Challenge
The multidisciplinary team included students from Georgetown’s College of Arts & Sciences, School of Foreign Service, and School of Medicine.
Strategic Initiatives
We launched and expanded programs that advance strategic priorities in global health.
Faith and Global Health Initiative
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Launched the Georgetown-Lancet Commission on Faith, Trust, and Health
Housed within the Global Health Institute, the commission is the first of its kind to center the role of faith in strengthening trust in health systems.
Convened First Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey
In May, commissioners traveled from several countries to attend a three-day convening, where they identified tentative themes and core issues to guide the commission's research.
Published Commentary in The Lancet
Following the Istanbul meeting, the commission’s co-chairs, along with several members, outlined the project’s goal in an article published in The Lancet.
Launched Webinar Series
In November, the commission launched a new webinar series featuring Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, along with commissioners Sister Carol Keehan and Alaa Murabit. The webinar reimagined the role of faith-health partnerships in strengthening trust in health services.
Collaboratives
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Launched the Global Cancer Collaborative
In partnership with the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, we launched the Global Cancer Collaborative to bring together faculty members from across Georgetown to share their work in this field and collaborate more closely.
Advanced the Global Maternal and Child Health Collaborative
In partnership with Georgetown Collaborative for Research and Education to Advance Children’s Health, we hosted several events focused on improving health outcomes for mothers and children.
Catalytic Incubator
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Supporting Faculty Research
We relaunched the Catalytic Incubator, previously the Collaborative Research Seed Grant, to support interdisciplinary projects with up to $15,000 for exploratory work and partnership-building.
Government Delivery
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Launched the Collaborating Center for Health Market Development in Africa
In April, Georgetown University and the African Union Development Agency New Partnership for Africa’s Development launched the Collaborating Center for Health Market Development in Africa, the first partnership of its kind between an African Union agency and an international academic institution.
Events
Throughout the year, we convened gatherings that advanced interdisciplinary learning, from major conferences to intimate conversations with global leaders.
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Consortium of Universities for Global Health
In February, over a dozen Georgetown faculty, staff, and students from five different centers and schools attended the annual conference. They led panels on artificial intelligence and the role of faith and trust in health.
MedStar Health-Georgetown University Research and Education Symposium
In May, panelists from the Global Health Institute, School of Health, School of Nursing, and MedStar Health-Georgetown Graduate Medical Education shared examples of innovative curricula, hands-on learning experiences, and joint research initiatives at the annual symposium.
Global Health Open House
In September, the Global Health Institute hosted more than 20 global health groups for its annual Global Health Open House. Since its launch in 2019, the event has become a hub for students, faculty, and staff to explore opportunities across the university’s interdisciplinary global health community.
Special Guests
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Ndaba Gaolathe, vice president and minister of finance of the Republic of Botswana
Gaolathe attended a high-level discussion with faculty about opportunities for global health partnerships between his government and the university.
Mike Nesbitt, minister of health for Northern Ireland
Nesbitt met with Global Health Institute Director Deus Bazira and Senior Advisor John Monahan to discuss social determinants of health, cross-sector collaboration, and strategies to improve health care in Northern Ireland.
Joy Phumaphi, former minister of health of Botswana and executive secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance
Phumaphi joined professors Matthew Kavanagh and John Quattrochi to discuss how U.S. and African governments can partner to ensure a successful transition to country ownership of health programs while sustaining progress against malaria, HIV/AIDS, and TB.
Anthony Fauci, a distinguished university professor
Fauci joined NBC News Chief Washington and Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell for an intimate fireside the university's interdisciplinary approach to global health.
Conversations in Health
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Michelle Roett, M.D., professor, chair, and clinical chief of the Department of Family Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
Dr. Roett shared insights from her work advancing maternal and child health, leading community-based initiatives in Washington, DC, and securing major funding to support equity-focused health care solutions.
Kristi Martin, director at the Camber Collective
Martin discussed her role in shaping Medicare policy in the United States, implementing landmark legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, and driving people-centered solutions to improve health systems.
John Nkengasong, Ph.D., former U.S. ambassador at large, U.S. Global AIDS coordinator, and U.S. Department of State senior bureau official for global health security and diplomacy
Nkengasong reflected on his efforts to combat HIV/AIDS through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS and strengthen global health diplomacy through cross-continental collaboration.
Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., former director of the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Dr. Collins shared insights from his leadership of the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the International Human Genome Project, along with his roles in collaborative research addressing global health challenges.
Lily Ryan (C’18), a health policy advisor for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Ryan discussed her path from a Georgetown student to becoming a Capitol Hill advisor.
Stephanie Psaki, former U.S. coordinator for global health security at the White House
Psaki discussed her work to involve multiple sectors in expanded collaboration on global health security.
Meena Seshamani, M.D., former director of the Medicare program at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Dr. Seshamani shared insights from her work as a transformative leader, clinician, and published researcher.
Katie Keith, J.D., MPH, former director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law
Keith discussed her work in advancing equitable health systems and gender equity across multiple sectors.
Susan C. Kim, J.D., MPH, MBA, former principal deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Kim shared insights from her extensive experience in health policy, public health strategy, and academic leadership.
Keith Martin, M.D., P.C., founding executive director of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health
Dr. Martin shared insights from his work addressing global health challenges, promoting interdisciplinary solutions, and navigating crisis-affected regions around the world.
Global Health Seminars
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A Medical Anthropology Assessment of Liver Cancer Risk Factors in Thailand
Christopher Loffredo, Ph.D., discussed an anthropological study examining why certain rural communities in Thailand experience higher rates of liver and bile duct cancer. The research explored how environmental exposures, diet, and the strength of local health systems contribute to differences in cancer risk across regions.
Predicting Antiretroviral Therapy Interruptions Among People Living with HIV in Haiti
Jiaqin Wu (G’24), M.S., presented research using machine learning to predict interruptions in HIV treatment in Haiti.
Consultative Dialogue on the Georgetown Commission on Faith, Trust, and Health
Amna Qayyum, Ph.D., and Olivia Wilkinson, Ph.D., introduced the Georgetown-Lancet Commission on Faith, Trust, and Health and its focus on rebuilding trust in public health systems through engagement with faith communities.
Surveillance of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in Guinea
Emilie Ryan-Castillo (G’25) discussed findings from a study examining community risk behaviors and exposure to viral hemorrhagic fevers in Guinea.
Assembled (In)access: The Borderlands of Health Care between Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Lucia Vitale presented a new conceptual framework to describe how marginalized populations piece together health care across multiple providers and borders.
Lab Ideation: Increasing Efficacy of Infectious Disease Interventions Through Implementation Research
Margaret Baker, Ph.D., introduced a new lab focused on using implementation science to improve the uptake of infectious disease interventions and their integration into health systems.
Asymptomatic: The Silent Spread of COVID-19 and the Future of Pandemics
Joshua S. Weitz, Ph.D., examined how asymptomatic transmission shaped the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and contributed to its global impact.
Applications and Interventions of Artificial Intelligence in Global Health in Africa: A Multinational Scoping Review
Katherine Robsky, Ph.D., and Saara Bidiwala (C’26) presented findings from a multinational scoping review examining how artificial intelligence is being applied in global health across Africa.
Second Consultative Dialogue on the Georgetown-Lancet Commission on Faith, Trust, and Health
Diana Rayes, Ph.D., and Amna Qayyum, Ph.D., provided updates on the progress of the Georgetown-Lancet Commission on Faith, Trust, and Health.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Laboratory Preparedness and Response
Ibrahim Bola Gobir, MBBS, described a Fleming Fund-supported project in Rwanda focused on diagnostic stewardship, workforce capacity, and integrated AMR surveillance, while Sumegha Asthana, Ph.D., presented research examining the sustainability and future role of laboratory capacities expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Team
We welcomed two staff members whose experience and leadership support our ongoing work across programs and initiatives.
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Nalini Anand, J.D., MPH, managing director of the Global Health Institute
Anand brings decades of experience shaping global health policy and research agendas, including leadership roles at the Fogarty International Center.
Diana Rayes, Ph.D., program director for the Faith and Global Health Initiative
Rayes' research focuses on mental health among refugees and migrants in high-income countries. She was previously a postdoctoral associate at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service.