Anil Kumar, MPH ’24, Dornsife School of Public Health

Anil Kumar is a graduate student who spent 3 months working alongside the World Vision Tanzania WASH team. He is pursuing a master’s degree in Epidemiology within the Dornsife School of Public Health and is excited to have experienced the rich culture and natural beauty that Tanzania has to offer.

Prior to this experience, Anil worked with the Teach for India foundation in New Delhi working with kids from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Additionally, Anil is actively involved in the Dornsife Student Government Organization as the President at Drexel.

While in Tanzania, Anil led a cross-sectional study in Karatu, Tanzania that explored accessibility to water sources and the prevalence of childhood diarrhea.

Devneet Kainth, MD ’26, Drexel University College of Medicine

Devneet Kaur Kainth is a second-year doctorate student who spent 2.5 months working alongside the World Vision Tanzania WASH team. She is pursuing a degree in medicine (M.D.) at Drexel University College of Medicine and is excited to have experienced the academic and cultural opportunities that Northern Tanzania has to offer.

Prior to this experience, Devneet has worked with diverse communities in Philadelphia and New York City and, globally, in Nicaragua and Honduras. Additionally, Devneet is actively involved in Health Outreach Projects and Co-President of the Global Health Interest Group at Drexel.

While in Tanzania, Devneet led a research study assessing the financial barriers to uptake of WASH services in Karatu District.

Emily Lincoln, MPH ’24, Dornsife School of Public Health

Emily Lincoln is a graduate student who spent 3 months working alongside the World Vision Eswatini WASH team. She is pursuing her master’s in public health in Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) and loved learning from international partners about weaving cultural and communal values into public health solutions.

Before this experience, Emily has worked as an Educational Equity Specialist, improving schools for students with marginalized identities. Prior to that she contributed to urban agriculture and food justice programs in partnership with community organizations fighting for land and health sovereignty. At Drexel, Emily is a Dornsife Public Health Research Fellow working on health communication efforts of extreme heat, an active member of the EOH Journal Club, and lover of a hearty case competition.

While in Eswatini, Emily led a research project exploring accessibility, perceptions, and barriers to sustaining safely managed water in Hhohho (Madlangempisi Area Program) and Lobamba (Mpolonjeni Area Program).

Talmadge Gaither MD ’26, Drexel University College of Medicine

Talmadge Gaither is a second-year medical student who spent 6 weeks working alongside the World Vision Tanzania WASH team. He is pursuing his medical degree within the Drexel College of Medicine (DUCOM) and is excited to have experienced a different cultural perspective on how to approach sustainability and community engagement.

Prior to attending DUCOM, Talmadge worked with middle school students in the greater Columbus, Ohio area, where the team addressed the impacts of food deserts that cover eastern and southern Columbus with a program called Urban Gems. Between a collaborative effort with his engineering capstone project and Urban Gems, his team focused on creating a water efficient device called an aeroponic garden that would be more cost effective than competitors on the market to be utilized by the community. At DUCOM, he currently co-coordinates MicroGreens HOP clinic, which is an organization that focuses on growing microgreens and teaching community members how to grow their own food at home in a cost-effective manner. Additionally, Talmadge is actively involved in various organizations within the Drexel community, including the Black Doctor’s Network, Urology Interest group, Hiking Club, and Aspiring Physician Executives Club.

While in Tanzania, Talmadge supported research efforts that explored the barriers to uptake of WASH services in Karatu District.

Victoria Rodríguez Villarreal BS ’25, Dornsife School of Public Health

Victoria Rodríguez Villarreal is an undergraduate student who spent three months working alongside the World Vision Eswatini WASH team. She is pursuing a degree in Public Health within the Dornsife School of Public Health and is excited to have experienced the rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene, and natural landscape of the local community and learn their unique history and connection between conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 pandemic that affect community members in Eswatini.

Prior to this experience, Victoria was involved in Global Citizen Year Certification, the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, ECOSOC Youth Forum, raising awareness about the climate crisis from gender, human rights, and Latin America perspectives. Additionally, Victoria is actively involved in the Sanitation Health Aid Relief Project (SHARP), the Dornsife Undergraduate Student Government Organization (DUSGO), and the Civic Engagement Committee of the Undergraduate Student Government (USGA) while serving as a representative for the Student Leadership Council on Climate and Sustainability at Drexel. Victoria is interested in health policy and equity and the intersection of health care and social justice, stemming from her passion for helping communities disproportionately affected by climate change.

While in Eswatini, Victoria led a research project evaluating the impact of safely managed WASH facilities on menstrual health in rural schools within the Shewula Area Program.

Rebounding from COVID-19 interruptions last year, a group of eight scholars from the Dornsife Global Development Scholars Program traveled to Ghana for an intensive field experience.

This immersive program was a guided collaboration between Drexel University, World Vision, and the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, and was a new approach for the ninth cohort of Dornsife Scholars.

The two-week program covered a wide range of topics that aligned with global strategies to end extreme poverty, reduce health inequalities, and better protect the planet by 2030.

Scholars also engaged with World Vision staff who were participating in the WASH Capacity Building Certificate Program.

The 2022 cohort of scholars included:

• Amna Khalafalla '22, Public Policy and Development, Pennoni Honors College
• Drexlar Attram '23, BS/MPH Public Health Dual-Degree, Dornsife School of Public Health
• Duyen Tran '22, Marketing and Business Economics Co-major, Lebow College of Business
• Julia Langmuir '23, Global Studies Major, College of Arts and Sciences
• Kaelah Grant '23: Psychology Major/Premed Major, Drexel College of Arts and Sciences
• Maria Garcia '23, Biomedical Engineering Major, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
• Meghan Gupta '23, BS/MPH Public Health Dual-Degree, Dornsife School of Public Health
• Nahian Ehtesham '22, Public Health Major, Dornsife School of Public Health

Field activities for the inaugural intensive took place throughout seven regions in Ghana (Greater Accra, Central, Bono Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono East, Northern, Upper East), and challenged students to explore community development strategies aimed at assessing and promoting WASH behaviors in community settings and health facilities.

The 2021 cohort of scholars tackled climate change through a first-of-its-kind research collaboration with World Vision International:

• Salamata Bah '23: Computer Science Major, Drexel College of Computing & Informatics
• J’Anna-Mare Lue '22: BS/MS Environmental Engineering Dual-Degree, Drexel College of Engineering
• Kaelah Grant '23: Psychology Major/Premed Major, Drexel College of Arts and Sciences
• Leila Nzekele '22: Public Health Major, Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health

The students investigated inequalities, evaluated power dynamics, and developed action items related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in high-income and low-income economies. Afterwards they received invitations to present their work at three international conferences. "Our work thus far has educated many across the world and I hope it continues to do so," said Kaelah Grant.

Hear more about their research and read a Q&A with Kaelah Grant on the Dornsife student stories blog: Leading Research on Decolonizing Global Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Initiatives

Learn more about the impact of J’Anna-Mare Lue's time as a Dornsife Global Development Scholar doing research in southern Africa: One Alumna’s Life-changing and Career-building Work at Drexel and in Lesotho

Salamata Bah

J’Anna-Mare Lue

Kaelah Grant

Leila Nzekele

Amna Khalafalla (Pre-Junior Custom-designed Major, Pennoni Honors College), a 2020 co-op experience scholar, will be spending 6 months in Rwanda. Her interest in global health are due to her experiences of living the first seven years of her life in East Africa and coming to understand the effects of the lack of public health due to structural issues in her hometown. She believes that improving water access, sanitation, and health services are the most necessary and chief aspects of economic development. In Rwanda, she is looking forward to understanding the efficacy of World Vision’s initiatives and the personal impacts they have on Rwandans alongside Rwanda’s steady economic growth. Even more, she hopes to gain knowledge about how cultural and social factors impact behavioral changes under development. A former Sociology student, the sociological perspective is the principle lens that guides her. Through this lens, Amna hopes to develop a complete image of sustainable development that centers culture and indigenous practices.

Armonie Pierre-Jacques (First-Year Masters Student, Community Health and Prevention Major, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 3 months in Ghana. She is interested in how social determinants of health shape people’s health outcomes globally. Her passion in global health also idealizes how diversity in world views and systems thinking can offer different solutions in public health. She is looking forward to engaging with those from underrepresented populations, immersing in a diverse culture, and collaborating on projects that contribute to hygiene and sanitation. Armonie hopes to strengthen her approach in advocating for human rights across landscapes. Through this lens, she is eager to work with World Vision in their partnerships with the Ghanaian community to build sustainability.

Betel Yemane (Pre-Junior, Finance with Business analytics concentration Major, Lebow College of Business), a 2020 CO-OP scholar, will be spending three months in Ethiopia and another three months in India. Betel is a returning scholar of 2018, where she spent two months in Malawi on how to use Sanitation as a business. Her interest in playing a role in providing sustainable global development has motivated her to understand this problem in depth. She will expand on her previous project from Malawi, in India, where she will compare what behavioral changes contributed to the success of using Sanitation as a business in India. For her project in Ethiopia, she will work closely with World Vision to strengthen their pilot program called Learning Root, which is designed to develop and prepare children, from ages three through six, for a successful transition to primary school. In addition, Betel is excited to experience the cultural differences and immersion between these communities. 

Drexlar Attram (Freshman, Public Health Major, Dornsife School of Public Health, Pennoni Honors College), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 3 months in Sierra Leone. Her interests in global health arise from her belief of health as a human right. By observing the health disparities around the world, Drexlar believes that it is her responsibility as a member of a high income country to support and implement sustainable health practices and policies in low and middle income countries. In Sierra Leone, Drexlar hopes to grasp a further understanding of the healthcare systems in underprivileged countries. Additionally, she is excited to experience the unique culture of Sierra Leone. Drexlar is looking forward to blending cultural aspects of Sierra Leone with American health systems in a way that promotes healthy community practices. Furthermore, as she plans to minor in photography, Drexlar intends to use her opportunity through World Vision and her passion for digital art to advocate for the health of low income countries in a way this generation could easily understand.

Duyen Tran (Sophomore, Marketing and Business Economics Co-major, Lebow College of Business), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 10 weeks in India. Duyen’s interest in global health stems from her real-life experiences while working with ethnic minority children in the mountainous Northwest region of Vietnam. Having grown up in a small town of Vietnam, she acknowledges the essential role of Quality Education for underprivileged children in terms of affecting their health behaviors, as well as improving public health in a community as a whole. With the mindset of a social entrepreneur, Duyen hopes to utilize this experience to learn more about the Design for Behavioral Change program and connect it with Quality Education to solve cross-cutting issues sustainably, effectively and efficiently. She is looking forward to examining the impact of health policies on health behaviors, specifically how NGOs/NPOs work with stakeholders and local government in terms of the policy to solve the problems. Duyen’s passion for cultural diversity and her mindset of opening for all possibilities give her a multidimensional perspective while collaborating with World Vision.

Gabrielle Brizzi (Junior, Public Health Major, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2020 Co-op Scholar, will be spending 3 months in Ghana. Gabrielle is an advocate for global health equity and has a strong interest in clinical public health. As an aspiring physician, Gabrielle plans to dedicate her career to addressing global health disparities and dismantling the systems that perpetuate such. In Ghana, Gabrielle is looking forward to learning more about WASH in healthcare facilities, WASH-related illnesses, and the impact the climate crisis has on the health of vulnerable populations. Having visited Ghana before, Gabrielle is excited to continue to establish relationships with community members, visit historical landmarks, and explore new places, food, and music. With this experience, Gabrielle hopes to strengthen her understanding of WASH-related behavior change and how public health practice varies depending on cultural, historical, and political contexts. Before her experience in Ghana, Gabrielle will be completing the first half of her co-op in Cambodia through Drexel’s international co-op program. She is excited to apply the skills she acquires in Cambodia and what she has already learned from her time as a 2018 Summer Experience Dornsife Scholar in eSwatini to an entirely different context in Ghana.

 
Ivy Steinberg-McElroy (Pre-Junior, Environmental Studies and Sustainability Major, College of Arts and Sciences), a 2020 Co-op Scholar, will be spending 6 months in Rwanda. Her interests in global health stem from her passion to help communities that are disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change. She believes that access to clean drinking water, nutritional food, and education are human rights that everyone deserves access to. Additionally, she knows that gaining access to these resources will only get harder for people in low to middle income countries as climate change-related catastrophes increase over time. Ivy is looking forward to immersing herself in the culture of communities in Rwanda and to better understanding the impacts that climate change caused by high income countries has on low to middle income countries. She hopes to learn more about the connections between the environment and human health and the social determinants of health that affect community members in Rwanda. Ivy’s main goal is to best prepare community members to prepare for and respond to the effects of climate change in an empowering way that provides them with self-efficacy and more social, educational, and economic opportunities.

Julia Langmuir (Freshman, Global Studies Major, College of Arts and Sciences), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 3 months in Senegal. Her passion for global health stems from her interest in finding solutions across disciplines to guarantee health as a human right. As a premedical student, she is interested in the ways in which understanding large-scale sustainable medical practices will reflect on her interest in primary care. Through the interdisciplinary Global Studies program, she is learning about global economics, public health, policy, and the sciences, and she hopes to apply this knowledge from a variety of different fields to the development of multifaceted solutions to community needs. Julia looks forward to learning about the history, culture, and traditions of Senegal through her experiences working with different communities. She is interested in studying the social determinants of health disparities in Senegal and the ways in which community engagement can contribute to the implementation and advancement of WASH practices in local communities. 

Update: After returning, Julia reflected on her experience working with World Vision in Ghana on the Dornsife student stories blog.

Kaelah Grant (Freshman, Psychology Major/Premed, College of Arts and Sciences), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 10 weeks in Ghana. She is a strong advocate for equal rights and health. She believes that everyone should have equal access to medical treatment and resources, and necessities that improve one’s quality of life. Her interest in global health stemmed from the idea that the work that needs to be done outside of the U.S. is greater than what has to be done within the U.S. She believes that, as a student and American, she has a duty to use her privilege to help LMIC and make the world equal in terms of human rights and health. During her time in Ghana, Kaelah hopes to gain knowledge about different cultures and become more culturally competent to aid her in the future as a surgeon. As a life-long learner and innovator, she wishes to discover novel ways to conduct research and create lasting solutions for long-standing health issues. While continuing the efforts of WASH, she strives to make an impact on the people and communities in rural parts of Ghana.

Kira Smith (First-Year Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 6 weeks in Uganda. Her passion for global health arises from her belief that reducing health disparities generated by societal inequities must extend beyond the hospital or doctor's office. While medical school will equip her with clinical skills and a solid foundation of knowledge, hands-on opportunities will provide the experience needed to explore and reduce the spectrum of health inequities confronting underserved populations around the world. She is eager to partner with community leaders to engage in the collaborative process of generating changes that are effective, sustainable, and directly beneficial to those most affected. Furthermore, she is excited to immerse herself in the rich diversity of Uganda and learn about the various cultures, traditions, and norms. Kira hopes to further her understanding of incorporating and implementing systems of health and wellness at the community level in order to practice comprehensive medicine. During her time with World Vision and in the future, she aspires to serve as a social agent of change through research, advocacy, and the relationships she develops with patients and communities.

Leila Nzekele (Junior, Public Health Major, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2020 Co-op Dornsife Global Development Scholar, will be spending 6 months in Rwanda. Her interests are rooted in the field of global health with concentrations in maternal and child health as well as behavioral science with the idea that equity must be provided for all. Furthermore, it is essential to create dialogue in order to build and improve relationships to facilitate change and address health issues. Leila is looking forward to gaining additional experience in the field, where she will be able to conduct research further in-depth, ultimately working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goal number 6, “clean water and sanitation for all” along with being immersed in Rwandan culture. She strives to strengthen strategic planning and affect behavior change influencing grassroots movements, empowering communities and more importantly, women to establish sustainability. Leila is both a convergent and divergent thinker. By employing this lens in conjunction with community-based participatory research she wishes to promote co-learning in menstrual hygiene and latrine maintenance.

 
María José Garcia (Freshman, Biomedical Engineering Major, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar will be spending 3 months in Honduras. She is deeply passionate about the development of equitable access to health care stemmed by strong multisectoral partnerships, community-centered networks and generational improvement of prevention strategies. She believes proper education can help develop a healthcare system based on competency, equality and empathy. Being a Honduran herself, she understands and acknowledges the impact of limited resources and inadequate healthcare services. Nevertheless, she has been inspired throughout her life by the kindness and creativity of her fellow countrymen and woman, so she looks forward to experiencing the roots of her culture by interacting with the optimistic spirits of her people. As a biomedical engineering major, she is enthusiastic to apply her knowledge to create a synergy between communities, physicians and authorities to promote preventive care, risk assessment, and timely effective responses. Working alongside World Vision, she is hopeful to identify the source and effect of microbial water contamination in order to expand WASH initiatives that effectively impact and improve human development. Her extensive experience with fieldwork and previous research makes her a critical thinker that incorporates kind, empathetic and compassionate assessment. María José, with her deep-rooted optimism and willingness to learn, believes her collaboration with World Vision will help initiate the butterfly effect that contributes towards meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

 
Marlee McCadden (First-Year Law Student, Thomas R. Kline School of Law), a 2020 Summer Experience scholar, will be spending 2.5 months in Senegal. Her interest in global health stems from a belief that access to health is an undeniable human right. She is interested in the cross-sections between immigration, international, and health law and desires to couple her knowledge of law and work with World Vision to improve global human rights policies. She is looking forward to experiencing the culture of Senegal and working with the Senegalese people. Marlee hopes to increase her understanding of how gender norms and religious norms affect health behaviors. Marlee hopes to further water, sanitation, and hygiene efforts by working with women in local religious groups to improve awareness of hygiene as it relates to religious practices. 

 
Maya Stallings (First-Year Masters Student, Epidemiology Major, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 3 months in Uganda. Through her work in AmeriCorps, she has had the opportunity to build partnerships with many community leaders who have done amazing work in the lives of the students and families in Philadelphia. Through an internship in Malawi, she was able to assist with strategic planning and volunteered in a local community health center. As a result of her experiences she has learned diligence, discipline, and the perseverance to know that any good deed, no matter how small, truly can make a difference in the world. She looks forward to bringing this perspective to Uganda. Through this upcoming experience in Uganda, she looks forward to building on these previous experiences through getting to know you all and deepening her understanding of what it means to be a global citizen in the international field of public health. She also looks forward to contributing effectively to the amazing work that the team is already doing while learning about maternal health. With that fresh perspective, she hopes to fulfill her passion of intersecting healthcare and education to promote social justice in the United States and internationally.

 
Meghan Gupta (Freshman, Public Health Major, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 3 months in India. Her interests in global health stem from the lack of adequate health systems causing an increase in various diseases. Therefore, ample services need to be provided for these households to prevent diseases which allows for changes in behavior. Meghan hopes to further her understanding of nutrition, healthcare-associated infections, food safety, and food insecurity. Similar to the works of Ophelia Dahl, Meghan is advocating for health services and rights for residents in specific area programs. Through this lens, she hopes to make sustainable efforts to create a health care services through health campaigns to help residents understand the use of these services in the rural parts of India.

 
Nahian Ehtesham (Freshman, Public Health Major, Penonni Honors College, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 3 months in Senegal. Her interests in global health comes from her mom who takes service trips to Bangladesh to educate women on maternal care. Nahian’s long term goal is to become a doctor for Doctors Without Borders, she strongly believes in health as a human right for all citizens across the globe. Nahian is hoping to integrate her current knowledge from prior experiences with the projects she will be working on. She is looking forward to learn about the culture of Senegal. In addition to helping the community in Senegal, Nahian hopes to form new skills that will help her with her goal of working for Doctors Without Borders.

Update: After returning, Nanian reflected on her experience working with World Vision in Ghana for the Dornsife student stories blog.

 
Ngwi Tayong (First-Year Masters Student, Epidemiology Major, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2020 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending 3 months in Uganda. Her interests include studying the distribution of health events in under resourced populations to address morbidity and mortality. She believes that traditional knowledge and intergenerational community engagement are essential to sustaining health promoting interventions. As a Dornsife Global Development Scholar, Ngwi hopes to support efforts to bridge the gap between research and practice. She is looking forward to studying the conditions that influence health outcomes in Uganda, particularly those factors related to water sanitation and hygiene (WASH). She hopes to apply evidence-based interventions that promote health. She is excited for the opportunity to learn from local community leaders, advocate for health equity and apply her current skills to her fieldwork. As a creative thinker, she intends to use her nuanced lens to partner with World Vision WASH to meaningfully support efforts to improve the health for all individuals.

 
Salamata Bah (Freshman, Computer Science, College of Computing and Informatics), a 2020 Summer Experience Dornsife Global Development Scholar, will be spending 3 months in Sierra Leone. She is interested in Global Health because she would like to live in a world where everyone has access to adequate health services. She believes that we all can contribute to ensure that everyone is living a healthy life by making the smallest impact possible. While in Sierra Leone, she is looking forward to using her problem-solving skills to provide clean water in areas of Sierra Leone. She is looking to achieve this goal by immersing herself in the Sierra Leonean culture, and raising awareness about the importance of safe drinking water. Inspired by the foundation of Bill Gates, Salamata hopes to solve the water crisis in parts of the world by using innovative technologies.

Aditi Bawa (Sophomore, Science Policy Major, Penoni Honors College), a Spring and Summer Term Coop Scholar, will be spending six months in Zambia. Her passion for science policy comes from a belief in evidence-based science affecting public policies that impact society for the better. By pursuing a highly interdisciplinary major that draws from classes in biotechnology, public policy, public health, ethics, and law, she is interested in understanding the ways that WASH can be integrated into policymaking at the local level. As a Dornsife Global Development Scholar, Aditi hopes to further this understanding and explore first-hand the connection between local WASH policies and implementation into everyday lives. She is excited to unravel what it truly means to be a "global citizen" by approaching her co-op with a multifaceted lens and using a bottum-up approach to bring clean water to everyone.

Allie Eastus (Junior, Public Health Major, Dornsife School of Public Health), a Spring Term Coop Scholar, will be spending three months in Eswatini. She is interested in the development of sustainable health systems and health policies that promote health as a universal human right. Allie is looking forward to integrating community-based practices in the field and working alongside World Vision staff to address designing programs for behavior change. In addition to her experience with qualitative research, Allie hopes to further her skills and knowledge of quantitative data. Importantly, she anticipates that she will be able to use these skills in support of the translation process to policy. Based on the courses she has taken thus far, Allie is aiming to understand the health outcomes in Eswatini using the Social Ecological Model (SEM). She aspires to use this model to address health outcomes from various levels of influence.

Briana Guillory (First-year Master's Student, Dornsife School of Public Health), a Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending three months in Lesotho. Briana's interest in global health stems from understanding that the world is interconnected through the environment. Our environment is not localized but globalized through natural processes. Improving the environment of one community is the pathway to improving communities around the globe. Briana is excited about being able to be on the ground, doing the heavy lifting and diving deeper into the specific health issues in Lesotho. Furthermore, Briana would like to gain a better understanding of the underlying causes of today's health crisis form a localized perspective; how to create and sustain healthy communities; and how to promote healthy behaviors. Briana intends to use her training in environmental science in conjunction with her passion for the differing narratives of others to empower communities and to assist communities in achieving healthier lifestyles and behaviors.

Christiana Obeng, (First-year Medical Student, College of Medicine), a Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending six weeks in Lesotho. Christiana’s interests in global health aligns with Tom Frieden’s, who once said “I loved clinical science, but in public health you can impact more than one person at a time. The whole society is your patient.” Christiana appreciates the methodical and in-depth training that she receives through her medical training. However, she believes that by coupling her medical knowledge with large-scale preventative and cost-effective measures, implemented through public health models, she can have a much wider and long-lasting impact as a future physician. Christiana is looking forward to being immersed in the rich culture of Lesotho and learning of the traditions and norms of the people of Lesotho. Globally, there is an alarming rate of maternal mortality, especially in low-income countries. Christiana hopes to further her understanding of the social determinants of maternal health disparities in such countries. She hopes to join efforts which target audiences such as traditional leaders of societies that endorse child marriages, to discuss how such marriages could further increase the risk of maternal mortality in young mothers.

Cierra Bryant (First-year Master's Student, Dornsife School of Public Health), a Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending three months in Lesotho. Cierra is passionate about global health and believes that everyone should have the same opportunities to achieve optimal health. Cierra is eager to work with various communities in Lesotho and to witness them reach this level of optimal health with clean water and improved sanitation practices. She hopes to strengthen her understanding of menstrual hygiene management and how that can be used to improve sanitation conditions. She is enthusiastic about being submerged in a new environment with new cultural norms and practices. Her open mind will guide her as she collaborates with World Vision Lesotho.

Francis Song (Junior, Health Sciences Major, College of Nursing and Health Professions), a Spring and Summer Term Co-op Scholar, will be spending six months in Zambia. He is interested in the betterment of human health and the enhancement of a sustainable lifestyle. Furthermore, he believes that the improvement of global health will significantly improve overall global development. He looks forward to providing a meaningful impact and experiencing the beautiful country of Zambia first-hand. He plans to further expand his knowledge of global health and working in international settings. Francis is a passionate learner and hopes to provide a memorable service in all of his work. 

Jerusalem Tamire (Sophomore, Economics Major, Lebow College of Business), a Spring Term Co-op Scholar, will be spending three months in Eswatini. Her interest in global health comes from her passion for healthcare policy in low-income countries. Having grown up in Ethiopia, she acknowledges the impact of underprivileged healthcare services. This motivates her aim to improve policy so that all can receive free and adequate care. In Eswatini, she looks forward to broadening her knowledge and perspective while working alongside some great African minds at World Vision. Her interests in behavioral economics and neuroscience will immerse her into the Design for Behavioral Change program.

Katherine Boyd (Medical Student, College of Medicine) a Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending six weeks in Zambia. Kat is passionate about partnering with communities and making sustainable changes that will be carried on by the people who benefit from them. She is particularly excited by opportunities to improve and expand public health offerings within communities. Kat is looking forward to learning more about Zambia’s culture and better understanding how health programs are implemented and maintained within this cultural context. Her collaboration with World Vision will be guided by a strong desire to learn about development work within Zambia and build relationships that strengthen the partnerships between community and World Vision. In addition to serving the people of Zambia, she hopes to build a skill set that will further her own career goals of providing healthcare to underserved populations, and working with the systems that provide it in order to fundamentally better them.

Matthew Wabwire (Freshman, Public Health Major, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2019 Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending three months in Malawi. His interests in global health stem from his experience with hygiene improvement schemes for adolescent girls in Kenya, and his research in socioeconomic disparities, antenatal healthcare and delivery services in Uganda. Within the field of public health, his has formed a keen interest in the study of social epidemiology. During his time in Malawi, Matthew looks forward to applying his current knowledge and cultural intelligence to the various community projects he will engage with. He is hopeful that through his previous experiences, more opportunities for cross-cultural communication and knowledge of the stakeholders within these projects, he will be able to make an invaluable contribution to the Designing for Behavioral Change framework for World Vision in Malawi.

Maxine Davis (Graduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending three months in Zambia. Her interest in global health steams from her passion for empowering underrepresented communities while being immersed in new cultures. Maxine is looking forward to strengthening her understanding of the relationship between behavior change and current practices for water and sanitation hygiene to ultimately improve health outcomes for the community.

Sebastien Trott (First Year, Drexel University College of Medicine) a Summer Experience Scholar, will be spending six weeks in Malawi. He is passionate about Global Health, particularly in preventative medicine and improving access to care in communities where health systems are underdeveloped. While access to healthcare has significant room for improvement both domestically and abroad, Sebastien’s interests in navigating cultural and language barriers in delivering this care have driven him to a more globally-focused career path. He is excited to expand his medical training by gaining hands-on experience in the field and a more globally nuanced understanding of social determinants of health. Sebastien’s technical knowledge and mindset will help him and his team take a systematic approach of identifying and creating solutions to the challenges they will encounter.

Meinkeng Stephannie Acha-Morfaw (Graduate, College of Medicine), a 2015 Scholar, worked in Karongi, Rwanda within the Byiringiro Area Development Program, which is in the Western Zone. Stephannie conducted surveys within households, at schools, health centers and community hygiene clubs to measure the impact of WASH on children's health, children's education, and the economic impact to the children's families. She focused on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) where she compiled reports on existing resources for the community and how WASH can formally integrate MHM into its program.

Oyinkansola Aderele (Undergraduate, College of Engineering), a 2015 Scholar, spent her spring/summer co-op working with the Mazabuka community in Zambia. Oyin worked with the Mazabuka Area Development Program improving boreholes. She also offered on suggestions for more efficient drilling practices, while educating the communities on rehabilitation and maintenance.

Ruth Boansi(Graduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2015 Scholar, worked within the Southern Africa Region in Zambia. She assisted the Sinazongwe Area Development Program with several of their WASH education initiatives. Most notably, Ruth evaluated the health and social markers of communities with successful Mechanized Water Systems.

Christina Bowles (Graduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2015 Scholar, worked in Chipinge, Zimbabwe helping the Chipinge Area Development Program, evaluating ways to increase the sustainability of the functionality of water points with an emphasis on improving the functionality of water point committees.

Heidi Elnathan (Graduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2015 Scholar, worked in Lugazi, Uganda helping the World Vision Mukono/Buikwe Cluster office assess hand hygiene among health workers and the provision of hygiene and sanitation training to new mothers in Health facilities that provide MNCH (Maternal, New Born and Child Health) services.

Andy Fox (Graduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2015 Scholar, worked out of the World Vision office in Savelugu, in Northern Ghana. Andy worked on a project called “Software" where a team of World Vision personnel went into local communities to talk with people about hygiene behavior and the use of latrines, water stations, and other WASH programs. Demonstrations were done using a water treatment product that was developed by Proctor and Gamble.

Itoro Inoyo (Graduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2015 Scholar, worked in Balaka, Malawi where she supported the World Vision Malawi office, working with both the Ntcheu and Balaka Area Development Programs. Itoro facilitated and assisted in the monitoring and evaluation of ongoing MNCH projects under World Vision's Malawi's WASH office, which focuses on improving health outcomes related to diarrhea, HIV/AIDs, acute respiratory diseases and malaria.

Gregory Kunkel (Undergraduate, College of Arts and Sciences), a 2015 Scholar, worked in Tamale, Ghana with the World Vision team in one of the most advanced water treatment labs in the entire continent. At the Regional Water Quality Lab, Greg helped advance a variety of initiatives that the World Vision Tamale Area Development Program currently has underway.

Beatrice Mwonga (BS/MS, College of Engineering), a 2015 Scholar, returned to her home country of Kenya, to assist the World Vision WASH team in Nairobi on infrastructure enhancements. Her work directly benefited communities that she has grown up in witnessing firsthand the importance of proper WASH infrastructure.

Leah Popek (Undergraduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2015 Scholar, worked within the Southern Africa Region in Zambia. She assisted the Sinazongwe Area Development Program with several of their WASH education initiatives. Most notably, Leah evaluated the health and social markers of communities with successful Mechanized Water Systems.

Mom “Nini” Tatah Mentan (Graduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2015 Scholar, was located in the Karongi District, in the Western Province of Rwanda and worked within the Byiringiro Area Development Program. Nini used survey questionnaires to assess, the health, economic, educational impact of WASH on orphans and vulnerable children. She also used survey questionnaires to evaluate management of water and sanitation infrastructures, community based environmental health programs and WASH in schools.

Tara Tobin (Undergraduate, College of Arts and Sciences), a 2015 Scholar, completed a successful spring/summer co-op placement in Zambia. Tara worked with the World Vision Choongo Area Development Program leading several projects including improving WASH in schools and WASH education in local communities.

Valerissa Baker (Undergraduate, College of Arts and Sciences), a 2014 Scholar, was the first recipient of the Dornsife Global Development Scholars program. She spent her spring/summer 2014 co-op in Zambia working with World Vision on intervention programs improving hand washing, personal hygiene, and menstrual hygiene practices.

Reeti Sharma (Graduate, Dornsife School of Public Health), a 2014 Scholar, was the first international experience recipient of the Dornsife Global Development Scholars program. She spent her summer 2014 term in Malawi working with World Vision and the Mzuzu University collecting data examining water quality in northern Malawi.