Global Health Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program

The Global Health Emerging Scholars (GHES) Program is part of the NIH Fogarty Global Health Programs for Fellows and Scholars.

Applications for the 2027–2028 Fellowship Year Are Now Open

Applications are now being accepted for the 2027–2028 GHES Fellowship year. The application deadline is October 1, 2026.

Prospective applicants interested in applying through the University of Arizona GHES Program should contact Roxanna Apaez, GHES Program Manager, at rapaez@arizona.edu to begin the application process and discuss eligibility, research site and mentorship alignment, and required application materials.

The Global Health Emerging Scholars (GHES) program is a 12-month mentored global health research training fellowship at select institutions in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). GHES was established in 2012 and is comprised of four US partner institutions – Yale University, the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, and the University of Arizona – that together have collaborations in 16 LMICs representing Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Oceania.

The program is designed for pre- and post-doctoral trainees from the U.S. and post-doctoral trainees from collaborating LMICs who are dedicated to pursuing a career in global health and want to gain a solid scientific research foundation in a collaborative environment to develop into productive, independent researchers in global health. GHES offers hand-on opportunities to conduct research projects relevant to the health priorities of stakeholders and partners at established medical and research institutions and project sites in collaborating LMICs while being mentored by dedicated experts.

GHES is one of seven consortia funded by the Launching Future Leaders in Global Health (LAUNCH) training initiative. The program is sponsored by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) and several collaborating Institutes and Centers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Mission Statement

The mission of the GHES program is to train new communities of researchers, educators, and professionals who are prepared to address emerging global health challenges. The program has historically focused on health challenges that arise from rapid urbanization and poverty prevalent in the world’s growing informal settlements, commonly known as slums. Rather than address one disease at a time, our program uses a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and integrated approach to training and research to tackle the complex health issues common in these settings. We encourage research on the challenges of delivering accessible and high-quality healthcare within resource-limited settings and research on interventions that promote the effective management of scarce resources and innovative solutions to improving health services. Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, HIV/STIs and other infectious diseases, environmental health, maternal and child health, intentional and unintentional injuries, trauma, and mental health are additional areas of research supported under this program.

Eligibility Summary

The GHES Fellowship is open to the following applicants:

U.S. Postdoctoral Fellows:

Must have a doctoral or health professional degree (e.g., PhD, MD, DrPH, DVM) by July 1 of the fellowship year.
Must be within five years of completing their terminal degree or clinical training.
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident from any accredited U.S. institution.
Must have a professional relationship with a GHES faculty mentor at Stanford, UC Berkeley, Yale, or University of Arizona.
Must be able to spend 10–12 months at a collaborating LMIC site.

U.S. Predoctoral Fellows:

Must be currently enrolled in a doctoral or health professional degree program.
Must have passed qualifying exams by the time of application.
Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident from any accredited U.S. institution.
Must have a professional relationship with a GHES faculty mentor at one of the four partner institutions.
Must be able to spend 10–12 months at a collaborating LMIC site.

LMIC Postdoctoral Fellows:

Must hold a doctoral or health professional degree and be within five years of completion of their terminal degree or clinical training.
Must be a resident of one of the 16 collaborating LMICs.
Must be affiliated with, or have a professional relationship with, GHES faculty at a collaborating LMIC or U.S. partner institution.
LMIC applicants are not eligible for predoctoral fellowships.

Learn more about how to apply and see if you're eligible by visiting the main GHES website. If you are interested in applying as a University of Arizona GHES Fellow, please contact the UA-GHES team below prior to submitting your application to ensure you have the necessary support and required materials.

Questions? Please contact: Purnima Madhivanan, UA GHES Program Director and PI (pmadhivanan@arizona.edu); Kerry Cooper, UA GHES Associate Program Director (kcooper@arizona.edu); Roxanna Apaez, Program Manager (rapaez@arizona.edu)

University of Arizona 2026-2027 Program Fellows

Sefonias Getachew, MPH, PhD

Fellowship Site: Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Research: Evaluation of Project ECHO Implementation for Enhancing Cervical Cancer Screening among People Living with HIV in Ethiopia

Mentors: Purnima Madhivanan, MBBS, MPH, PhD; Damen Haile Mariam, MD, PhD; Breanne Lott, MPH, PhD

Dr. Sefonias Getachew is a public health professional and epidemiologist with extensive expertise in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), cancer prevention and control, health service delivery, and epidemiological research. He is an Assistant Professor at the Addis Ababa University School of Public Health and previously served as Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He is currently a GHES Fellow for the 2026/27 cohort, based at the University of Arizona, where he continues to advance his expertise in global health and applied epidemiology.

Dr. Getachew is also the Chair of the NCD Technical Working Group at the Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA) and has played a leading role in strengthening the NCD and cancer research and policy agenda in Ethiopia. Since 2015, he has been a founding member and Secretariat of the NCD Working Group at Addis Ababa University, contributing to the coordination and leadership of multidisciplinary research and academic initiatives focused on NCD prevention, control, and health system strengthening.

His research and professional work have a strong emphasis on cancer service delivery, particularly at decentralized and first-line health facilities. His work spans the full continuum of cancer care, including early detection, diagnosis, referral, treatment, and linkage to appropriate services, with a particular interest in translating evidence into effective and equitable health services.

Dr. Getachew currently serves as a member of the Cancer Technical Working Group at the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and led the development of Ethiopia’s first national breast cancer guideline, launched in June 2024. He also contributed as a Technical Working Group member to the development of the Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) Implementation Framework, supporting efforts to strengthen breast cancer control through evidence-based and contextually appropriate approaches.

Beyond his academic and technical roles, Dr. Getachew has extensive experience coordinating and leading national and international research initiatives on cancer and other NCDs. He has participated in numerous national and international forums and presented scientific findings to inform public health policy, clinical practice, and health service delivery.

Dr. Getachew is the author or co-author of more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific publications, with much of his work focused on public health, NCDs, cancer prevention and control, and the delivery of essential cancer services in Ethiopia. His work is driven by a commitment to generating evidence, strengthening health systems, and translating research into practical solutions that improve population health outcomes.

Research Profile

Publications

Ngozi Odunze-Odoala, MBBS, FWACS(c)

Fellowship Site: University of Jos, Nigeria
Research: Strengthening paediatric surgical care for typhoid intestinal perforation, burden, care pathways and readiness for a standardized care

Mentors: Purnima Madhivanan MBBS, MPH, PhD; Jonah Musa, MBBS, FWACS, FMCOG, PhD; Emmanuel Ameh, MBBS, FWACS

Dr. Ngozi is an experienced paediatric surgeon with firsthand clinical exposure to practice in resource limited settings and it's attendant effects on patient outcomes. She has a keen interest in global health which drives her commitment to improving healthcare delivery. This research will focus on the prospective assessment of burden and factors affecting surgical care in typhoid ileal perforation which will highlight actionable bottlenecks and outline feasible standardized care bundles.

Annesha Datta

Fellowship Site: Public Health Research Institute of India
Research: A Mixed-Methods Study of Community Health Worker Counseling to Improve Cervical Cancer Screening Intention Among Women Living with HIV in India

Mentors: Purnima Madhivanan, MBBS, MPH, PhD, Devanshi Somaiya, MD, MPH, Sai Subhasree Raghavan, MSc, PhD

Annesha Datta is a fourth-year medical student at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a 2026–2027 Global Health Emerging Scholars Fellow at the Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII) in Mysore, India. She received her BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, where she developed an interest in health equity, health communication, and the social and structural factors that influence access to healthcare.

During her fellowship, Annesha is conducting a mixed-methods implementation science study examining whether personalized counseling delivered by community health workers can improve cervical cancer screening intention among women living with HIV in India. Her research explores how patient-centered interventions can address barriers to cervical cancer screening in this especially vulnerable population. Through this work, she is particularly interested in understanding how health interventions can be designed to address patients’ perceptions, needs, and lived experiences.

Annesha’s broader interests lie at the intersection of sexual and reproductive health, health equity, and improving access to care. She has worked to advance these interests through the EmpowHER project, a sexual and reproductive health education initiative, and Promise Clinic, a student-run free clinic serving patients with limited access to healthcare, where she serves as Director of Operations. She hopes to pursue a career in obstetrics and gynecology that combines clinical care with research and advocacy to expand access to high-quality preventive and reproductive healthcare, both in the United States and globally.

University of Arizona 2025-2026 Program Fellows

Muluken Gizaw, PhD, MPH

Fellowship Site: Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Research: Identifying barriers, facilitators, and care pathways for HPV self-sampling–based cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV in Ethiopia: A mixed-method study

Dr. Muluken Gizaw is a cancer epidemiologist and implementation scientist with expertise in cancer prevention and control in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). He is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Arizona, working under the mentorship of Dr. Purnima Madhivanan (PhD, MPH, MBBS), and serves as an Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University.

Dr. Gizaw is a senior researcher in the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Working Group in Ethiopia, where his work focuses on strengthening equitable cancer screening, early detection, and post-screening care pathways. He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, primarily in the area of cervical cancer prevention and HPV-based screening.

His research interests include cancers of the female reproductive system, HPV self-sampling and triage pathways, digital health innovations in cancer care, social determinants of health, disparities in cancer screening and treatment, research ethics, and global health diplomacy. His postdoctoral research at the University of Arizona focuses on identifying barriers, facilitators, and care pathways for HPV self-sampling–based cervical cancer screening among women living with HIV in Ethiopia.

Dr. Gizaw actively contributes to national and international cancer policy and implementation efforts. He is a member of Ethiopia’s National Technical Working Group for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control, a steering committee member of the International Cancer Screening Network (ICSN), and currently chairs the LMIC HPV-based Screening Implementation Working Group within ICSN.

Dr. Gizaw holds a PhD and has received recognition for his leadership in HPV-based screening implementation research. He serves as a co-Principal Investigator on multinational consortium projects and has contributed to the development of national cervical cancer screening guidelines in Ethiopia. His long-term career goal is to bridge research-to-policy gaps in cancer prevention, strengthen regional research leadership, and secure NIH and global funding to address inequities in cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa.

Research Profile

Publications

Lisa Woodson, PhD, MPH

Fellowship Site: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Research: Measuring health risks and strategies in response to climatic shifts in the Peruvian Amazon

Based at the University of Arizona, Dr. Lisa Labita Woodson brings over 15 years of global health experience to community-engaged, mixed-methods research that centers women’s and adolescents’ health. During her doctoral training in the Peruvian Amazon, in collaboration with Mamás del Río, she received support through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and the Global Health Emerging Scholars Program to examine the downstream impacts of COVID-19 on adolescent pregnancy and educational attainment. With input from community stakeholders, she used these findings to co-develop Wikan Kunumi, an adolescent pregnancy intervention for which she is currently seeking pilot funding.

Over the past three years, her ongoing work in the region, including during periods of extreme weather, has informed her focus on how climate-related risks affect the lives of climate-vulnerable populations and the feasibility of health interventions over time. Through her postdoctoral GHES fellowship, she draws on long-term partnerships with rural Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon to examine how climatic shifts influence health and wellbeing, social infrastructure, and cultural identity through an intersectional lens.

Lisa’s scholarship is grounded in arts-based and participatory research. She has used visual art, digital storytelling, and poetry to elevate local knowledge and support community-led action. Her current project uses photovoice with youth and community health workers to document lived experiences of climate-related shifts through participant-produced photographs. This work amplifies community voices and supports locally grounded climate action. She is also the founder of Beyond Global Health, a platform that bridges research and art to reimagine how global health knowledge is created and shared.

Anju F. Kane, PhDc, MPH, MA

Fellowship Site: Public Health Research Institute of India
Research: A Novel Approach to Cervical Cancer Prevention: Addressing Structural and Psychosocial Barriers in Rural India

Anju Franklin Kane is a doctoral candidate studying Population and Public Health Sciences. During her fellowship year, she will work with the Public Health Research Institute of India in Mysore under the mentorship of Purnima Madhivanan, MBBS, MPH, PhD, and Devanshi Somaiya, MD, MPH, to examine how psychosocial and structural barriers affect HPV screening-seeking behaviors and completion of the screening cascade among women in rural, resource-limited settings.

Her past work has focused on maternal and infant mortality, cervical cancer prevention, and climate impacts on health, with research experience in Kenya, Malawi, and Cuba. In Los Angeles, she has taught at California State University Northridge, led California Department of Public Health programming to reduce African American infant and maternal mortality, and collaborated with USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center to reduce HPV-related cancers in communities of color. Anju is passionate about improving health outcomes and reducing disparities for vulnerable populations through preventive care and advocacy. She holds an MPH from the University of Southern California and an MA from Syracuse University.

University of Arizona 2024-2025 Program Fellows

PREDOCTORAL STUDENT SCHOLARS

Hector J. Peguero, MPH, MS

Fellowship Site: Public Health Research Institute of India
Research: Indian physicians’ experiences working with LGBTQ HIV/AIDS patients

Hector J. Peguero Caballero is a global health researcher whose work centers on health inequities affecting LGBTQIA+ populations, with a particular focus on HIV, stigma, and access to care in low- and middle-income settings. During his Global Health Emerging Scholars Fellowship at the Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII) in Mysore, India, Hector conducted qualitative research with medical providers and trainees to examine LGBTQ+ health training, clinical experiences, and barriers to inclusive care in the Indian context.

His fellowship work emphasized community-engaged and culturally grounded research approaches, contributing to conference presentations, peer-reviewed scholarship, and ongoing collaborations in India. Through this experience, Hector strengthened partnerships with local institutions and organizations and advanced research aimed at informing more inclusive health education and practice.

Hector’s work reflects a commitment to translating research into action through community-centered, equity-focused strategies that support sexual and gender minority health across global contexts.

Deepshika Sudhakar

Fellowship Site: Public Health Research Institute of India
Research: Breast Cancer Awareness through Digital Stories of Breast Cancer Survivors in Mysore, India

Deepshika Sudhakar is a medical student and global health researcher whose work focuses on stigma as a social determinant of health, particularly in women’s health and cancer care in low- and middle-income settings. During her Global Health Emerging Scholars Fellowship at the Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII) in Mysore, India, Deepshika conducted a mixed-methods study examining experiences and drivers of stigma among breast cancer survivors.

Her research combined quantitative analysis of stigma scores with qualitative focus group discussions, drawing on the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework to explore how cultural beliefs, education, and social practices influence access to diagnosis and treatment. Preliminary findings highlight stigma as a significant barrier to breast cancer screening and care, with implications for both community-level education and health system interventions.

Through her fellowship, Deepshika engaged in community-based research, contributed to cancer education initiatives, and collaborated with local researchers on women’s health and mental health stigma projects. Her work reflects a commitment to equity-driven, culturally grounded research that informs interventions to improve cancer care for underserved populations.