Our Impact

Our global health work at the University of Minnesota has created international partnerships that allow for meaningful collaboration – from workforce development in Uganda to gender-affirming care in Thailand.   

Our education, research, and capacity-building efforts continue to impact countless communities while also shaping the minds of future global health researchers, practitioners, and leaders. Through our seed grants, travel awards, and mentorship programs, we are able to give faculty and students the opportunity to form valuable international collaborations. These partnerships are translating ideas into cutting-edge practice in the field at research sites on four continents. 

Building on this foundation, the center today is at the forefront of a transition in global consciousness, recentering meaningful community engagement at the heart of our research and training efforts. Partnerships with local communities focus on building lasting relationships and nurturing the next generation of global health leaders.

 

Our Global Reach

We have worked or partnered in over 37 countries across the globe.

 

World map with highlighted countries where CGHSR has worked

Global Health by the Numbers

We have impacted thousands of students, practitioners, and professionals through our education, research, and capacity programs.

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GLOBAL HEALTH SEED GRANTS

45 grants and $1.1 million awarded since 2016

GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT GRANTS

20 grants and more than $300,000 awarded

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FOGARTY FELLOWSHIPS

53 trainees from University of Minnesota since 2012

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CASE COMPETITION

More than 750 students from 18 UMN schools since 2016

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PARTNERSHIPS

100+ partner institutions in 37 partner countries

GLOBAL HEALTH COURSES

Nearly 300 students have taken CGHSR Global Health courses

A student stands in front of her poster at Global Health Day

 

Impact Area: Fostering the Next Generation of Global Health Leaders

Through our education and research programs, we're building connections and enhancing knowledge alongside future global health practitioners, professionals, and leaders.

see how –
  • Global Medical Education and Research Program
  • India: Global Health, Globalization & Leadership Course
  • Global Health Case Competition

Global Medical Education and Research Program (GMER)

GMER promotes an exchange of international educational, research, and other scholarly opportunities for University of Minnesota medical students.

“This elective clarified a lot of my goals for a career in global health. I feel more confident that I have the vision and means for achieving these goals after taking this course." — 2023 GMER Participant

100% of students reported that their GMER rotation expanded their knowledge of how health care delivery varies around the world.

 

Pie chart with title "To what degree did your experience impact your career goals?". 46% report a lot, 47% report somewhat, and 7% report a little.

India: Global Health, Globalization & Leadership Course 

In this two week course in Mysore, India, learners explore health, health care delivery, and social determinants in the context of globalization in India.

"The biggest takeaway for me was prioritizing community leadership when working in global health. Rather than going to another environment and enforcing your own culture, global health is about utilizing community-led partnerships to promote health equity." – Rachel Mansk, MPH ‘23

After participating in the course, 92% of students said they have interest in working in global health in the future.

 

Global Health Case Competition

The Global Health Case Competition is an interprofessional learning opportunity for UMN students to work together to develop innovative solutions for twenty-first century global health issues.

“You’re taught to think a certain way in medical school, and I’m sure in other respective grad programs. And to see how different individuals from different schools think about a certain problem was really satisfying — it opened up my eyes to different ways to approach a question” – Ayush Shah, 2023 Global Health Case Competition Participant

91% of Case Competition participants said the event increased their interest in pursuing a career in global health. 

 

Pie chart with the question "Case Competition was a valuable learning experience for me as a student." 74% strongly agree, 20% agree, and 6% feel neutral.
A group of health professionals smile at the camera in East Africa

 

Impact Area: Catalyzing Mutually-Beneficial Global Health Partnerships

We work with global partners to foster sustainable, bi-directional partnerships with the goal of building capacity for ensuring the health of their communities in the long term.

SEE HOW –
  • Global Health Seed Grants
  • UN Migration Agency (IOM) Project
  • Global Engagement Grants

Global Health Seed Grants

Our Global Health Seed Grant program fosters new interdisciplinary collaborations to advance global health research through funding up to $25,000 for UMN faculty and partners.

“The seed grant allowed us to get some research up and going quickly, while we were all very enthusiastic about the idea and ready to run with it. This was a great opportunity to build relationships with new collaborators at a new site.”

75% of Seed Grant recipient respondents anticipate proposing new collaborations with their study co-investigator in the future.

 

 

A pie chart demonstrating the breakdown of Global Health Seed Grant awardee schools/colleges.

UN Migration Agency Project

We partner with IOM and the CDC to deliver refugee resettlement physical examination quality improvement training, aimed at standardizing and strengthening physical examinations performed by IOM physicians.

“Amazing facilitators group. I really appreciate the way the team adapted the training to the needs (goals) of the participants.” – IOM physician participant in Kigoma, Tanzania

Over 100 IOM physicians from 38 countries have attended in-person trainings led by the University of Minnesota and local experts.

 

 

Map labeled Locations of IOM physical examination trainings. Locations include Uganda, Kenya, Ukraine, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Global Engagement Grants

Our Global Engagement Grants offer funding for innovative projects by faculty, researchers and students blend work in research, education and capacity building. 

“This award will allow my colleagues from the National Malaria Control Program in Mozambique to visit our University and hold important meetings with our team here. This will give the opportunity for deeper engagement with our collaborative projects and develop future projects.” — Kelly Searle, PhD, 2023-24 Global Engagement Grant Recipient 

CGHSR has funded 20 Global Engagement Grants for a total of $304,739. 

 

Pie chart of number of people from each school/college that have received Global Engagement Grants. Medical School: 6. Public Health: 5. Nursing: 3. Social Work: 1. MIDB: 1. Pharmacy: 1. Education: 1. CHIP: 1.
Students gather around at a field site part of the Global Local course

 

Impact Area: Championing Social Responsibility in Global Health

We prioritize benefit to society and the environment at large throughout the cycle of our global health efforts—from planning and implementation to evaluating and disseminating outcomes.

SEE HOW –
  • Advocacy for Global Health Partnerships 
  • Global Health in Local Contexts
  • Mini Medical School: A Focus on Global Health

Advocacy for Global Health Partnerships 

Advocacy for Global Health Partnerships (AGHP) is a coalition of global health practitioners committed to ensuring equity and bidirectionality in global health practice. CGHSR Executive Director Shailey Prasad is a co-founder of the group. AGHP has created the Brocher Declaration, a list of principles that outline recommendations for global health work.

More than 50 institutions have signed onto the Brocher Declaration. 

Read the Brocher Declaration. 

Members of Advocacy for Global Health Partnerships pose for a picture.

Global Health in Local Contexts

Global Health in Local Contexts is an experiential course that immerses UMN students and health professionals in the study of health equity, the social determinants of health, and community-based healthcare.

“This course helped me grow emotionally and made me feel more connected to this place. It created the opportunity to form new connections with classmates from many different backgrounds, and with our incredible instructors. I am a better person who is better equipped to advocate for health justice after taking this course.” — 2023 Global Local Student

All students surveyed after the 2023 course said Global Health in Local Contexts had changed their ideas about global health.

 

Pie chart depicting data showcasing how much students' ideas about global health changed after taking Global Local course.

Mini Medical School: A Focus on Global Health

Mini Medical School: A Focus on Global Health is a short educational series designed for general audiences across Minnesota. Sessions explore global health research, capacity building, and the nuances of social responsibility.

“I thought the discussion was stimulating, and it was useful to have panelists with such a variety of backgrounds including medical missions (for better or for worse!) I found the dialogue and topic to be fascinating and relevant!” – Anonymous participant of MMS Session 1: Reexamining Medical Missions

94% of participants intend to use the information they learned in the Mini Medical School: A Focus on Global Health session they attended.

 

 

Pie chart with question "Are you interested in this Mini Medical School Topic?" 57% strongly agree, 26% agree, 10% feel neutral, 7% disagree.