Global Health Experiential Fellowship
Global Health Experiential Fellowship (GHEF)
Hosted by Empower Through Health
Apply Here: https://www.ethealth.org/fellowship
Do real global health research on the ground – with mentorship, binational collaboration, and a peer-reviewed, evidence-based training model.
The Global Health Experiential Fellowship (GHEF) is an immersive, five-week, in-person fellowship for highly motivated undergraduate, graduate, and medical students seeking rigorous, hands-on experience in global health research, public health, and intercultural collaboration. Fellows live and work in rural Uganda, partnering directly with Ugandan undergraduate and graduate students and local communities to conduct applied, community-engaged research.
Scholarly Output
~80% of 2023 fellows became co-authors on peer-reviewed publications from their GHEF projects. 2024–2025 cohorts are expected to track similarly as papers in the publication pipeline are published in scientific journals.
What You’ll Do
- Conduct field-based global health research in rural Uganda
- Work in binational teams with Ugandan undergraduate and master’s students
- Gain hands-on experience with study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and manuscript writing
- Engage critically with issues of health equity, ethics, and implementation
- Prepare research for presentation and continued development after the program
Mentorship & Training
Fellows receive close mentorship from internationally recognized physician-scientists, including:
- Dr. Robert Rosenheck MD, Professor Emeritus, Yale School of Medicine, Co-Director of Global Health Experiential Fellowship
- Dr. Yang Jae Lee MD, Assistant Professor, University of Washington School of Medicine, Co-Director of Global Health Experiential Fellowship
Mentorship emphasizes research rigor, ethical global health practice, and professional development.
Program Highlights
- Hosted by Empower Through Health (ETH): A U.S.- and Uganda-based global health organization with long-term in-country presence, partnerships, and established research infrastructure
- Collaborative Research Model: Binational teams centered on Ugandan partnership – no “parachute research”
- Evidence-Based Program: GHEF has been formally evaluated in a peer-reviewed journal (SSM-Mental Health), demonstrating measurable improvements in fellows’ global health research skills and training outcomes
- Global Health Equity Symposium: Present preliminary findings at a virtual academic symposium in the fall
- Publication Pathway: Opportunity to continue working with mentors toward a peer-reviewed manuscript contingent on meeting the ICMJE criteria for co-authorship
Program Dates
- Cohort 1: May 25 – June 24, 2026
- Cohort 2: July 6 – August 5, 2026
Who Should Apply
- Undergraduate, graduate, and medical students; people on gap year(s); working professionals interested in additional skill-building
- People interested in global health, public health, medicine, epidemiology, policy, or social science research
- Applicants seeking a rigorous, immersive research experience with real academic and professional outcomes