BU’s Global Health Ideas Repository needs your contributions
The Global Health Ideas Repository is a forum that connects educators, innovators, and students from various disciplines interested in tackling global health challenges from an engineering perspective.
Through the site, you can:
- Propose a global health challenge to the BU College of Engineering.
- Explore submissions that can be used to design classroom exercises or hands-on projects.
- Share ideas for solutions and connect with others interested in working on the same project.
Summer 2016 Internships Now Open with Global Health Fellows II
Internships are finally here! A position with the Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) II can open doors for your career. As a GHFP-II summer Intern, you will work alongside world-renowned global health experts at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). GHFP-II Interns deliver high-quality technical support for international projects in maternal and child health, family planning, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases, and other technical areas. Internships have tailored learning objectives and an effective evaluation method to maximize their experience. Through the Internship program, GHFP-II develops a pipeline for the next generation of global health professionals that is representative of American diversity, and we encourage everyone to apply. Read more about our Internship program here.
20 Positions Available!
See all available internship positions and submit your application at recruitment.ghfp.net. Our application checklist will help ensure a smooth experience. PRO-TIP: Read the job descriptions carefully, and pay particular attention to the start dates.
Internship Facts:
- Applications open: Monday, December 21, 2016
- Applications close: Monday, January 18, 2016, 5 pm EST
- Pay is based on level of education, and specified in the job descriptions
- 12-week positions
- Location: Washington, DC / Arlington, VA
Eligibility:
- Positions are available at master's, bachelor's, and doctoral levels.
- Internships are open to current students and recent graduates (within 12 months of master's/PhD, or 24 months of BA/BS).
- You must be a US Citizen or US Permanent Resident to apply.
Application Help: Informational Interviews
Take advantage of a GHFP-II informational interview! This is a unique chance to talk with one of our experienced staff members who can give you resume feedback and help you strategically prepare for a global health career, or your next job. This service is complimentary!
Please address questions to ghfprecruitment@ghfp.net.
GH alum discusses advocacy, funding, and treatment of cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa
Read the latest Pardee Paper written by Global Health alum Maia Olsen, Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Need for New Paradigms in Global Health.
Cancer is the leading global cause of death, and has been on the rise in low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and worldwide, which are projected to account for roughly 80 percent of global cancer diagnoses by 2030. Much like the inadequate funding and priority-setting that plagued the treatment of HIV/AIDS early in the epidemic, cancer treatment is suffering from a cycle of inaction in sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper, Maia Olsen, a 2013 Pardee Graduate Summer Fellow, examines the lessons learned from the global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa and applies them to the future of political advocacy, funding, and treatment of cancer in the region.
Maia Olsen is a Program Manager for the NCD Synergies project at Partners In Health, a policy and advocacy program focused on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries among the poorest populations worldwide. She holds an MPH in International Health from Boston University and a BA in Anthropology and Global Development Studies from Grinnell College.
Summer Field Program in the Philippines – seeking interested students
Are you interested in participating in or learning about the 2016 Summer Field Program in the Philippines?
Students interested in participating in the 2016 Philippines Program, should review the program site and reach out to Joe Anzalone to learn about this year's program. Preliminary dates for the program, are May 9 to August 5, 2016. Those interested in applying should connect with Joe in early January.
(The Mexico Field Program is currently accepting applications. The Tanzania Field Program, the proposed successor to the long-standing Kenya Field program, will also be seeking applicants in January.)
USAID GHFP-II Internship Available: Health Management Information Systems Intern
Health Management Information Systems Intern
Strategic Planning, Evaluation and Reporting Division, Office of HIV/AIDS, Bureau for Global health, United States Agency for International Development
Location: Washington, DC/Arlington, VA | February 2016-August 2016: Compensated 6 month Internship | INT-P5-035
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
GHFP-II's goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency's immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual working planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.
Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency's ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.
BACKGROUND
In cooperation with the US Department of State's Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator, other US Government (USG) partners, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations, USAID provides global technical leadership on the full range of issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment; manages numerous research and field support programs; and monitors the impact of the Agency's HIV/AIDS programs. In this endeavor, USAID works very closely with a range of USG agencies involved in the fight against AIDS, such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, and Peace Corps. The Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA) is the focus of technical leadership for USAID and has primary responsibility for leading the Agency's efforts within President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). More information about PEPFAR may be found at http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/global-health/hiv-and-aids.
Health Information Systems (HIS)/ Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) activities are a key component of PEPFAR Strategic Information (SI) programs. At the facility and community level, HIS assists health care workers in providing high quality and timely care. At the national, regional and Headquarters level, HIS assists public health managers in finding answers to key questions in: the state of the HIV/AIDS epidemic; the delivery and process of prevention; care and treatment services; the effectiveness of these services; the capacity needed to improve programs; as well as to plan and report and reach goals impacting the epidemic.
USAID's Site Improvement through Monitoring System (SIMS) is a new initiative designed to respond to PEPFAR priorities of transparency, accountability, and maximizing impact on the HIV pandemic. In January 2016, USAID will launch the Global Health SIMS Mobile Application (GHSMA) to 44 operating units/countries to facilitate SIMS data collection.
INTRODUCTION
The Health Management Information System (HMIS) Intern (Intern) will be assigned to the Health Informatics (HI) Team in the Strategic Planning, Evaluation and Reporting (SPER) Division within the Bureau for Global Health's (GH) within OHA. The HMIS Intern will support a cross-team effort to launch and provide end user support for GHSMA.
The Intern will work with the OHA and HI Team to provide technical assistance and training support related to SIMS mobile application end users, including providing helpdesk support, resolving problems to the end user's satisfaction, providing end user trainings, and supporting the development of training materials.
The Intern will work closely with the Senior Technical Advisor for the Global Health Bureau, as his/her onsite manager.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Gaining experience in the field of health information systems and respective data collection at the country level.
• Gaining a greater understanding of PEPFAR and OHA's emergent data, information systems, data mapping processes and standards, core business processes, dash boarding and data analytics needs.
• Gaining a greater understanding of country-level HMIS and SIMS.
• Deepening skills in supporting large scale mobile application deployment and understanding the unique challenges and implications of routine software and global health end user support spread across over three dozen operating units
• Deepening skills in collaboration and coordination within a complex organizational and implementation structure.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Providing support to the SIMS Team to develop a helpdesk support structure, including workflows, service ticketing, service queues, service support report development, and user satisfaction.
• Assisting the HI Team in triaging GHSMA support requests and resolving application and end user issues as possible, including monitoring, tracking, and reporting SIMS/GHSMA issues and problems.
• Based on GHSMA issue trends, assisting in the development of a FAQs, tips, tricks, and knowledge base to assist end users in resolving common application challenges.
• Supporting documentation of results, research and evaluation evidence, and lessons learned on GHSMA roll out.
• Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on organizational and programming need and/or the Intern's own interests.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Currently enrolled master's or other post-bachelor's degree candidate in a program related to public health, health informatics, information systems, computer science or relevant field; or, completion of such within the past 12 months.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to think big picture strategy and navigate minor details to ensure all ends are accurate.
• Ability to translate technical issues and data to the general public.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines while producing quality content.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency required.
COMPENSATION
$1,690 bi-weekly (exempt, salaried position).
TO APPLY
Detailed information, including an online application and instructions, is available on our website at https://www.ghfp.net/
All online applications must be submitted by December 31, 2015 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA Employer.
Registration Open for Swahili Language with a Health Focus Course – CAS LE491
BU’s African Study Center is offering a Swahili Language class on the Medical Campus for Spring 2016. MPH Students interested in working in East Africa and/or participating in the proposed Global Health Summer Field Course in Tanzania, are encourage to enroll in this class - CAS LE491 - as soon as possible, via student link. The course is offered for 2 credits. It is also possible to enroll in the class for 1 credit.
This intensive language course will be scheduled for 2 hours, twice a week, and is comparable to a 4 credit undergraduate language course. The class will emphasis Swahili language useful in conducting fieldwork and surveys, as well as cultural specific notions of health. Much coursework occurs during class time. The meeting time of the course will be determined based upon when enrolled students are available. (Depending on interest, more than one section may be offered). Those interested, should register as soon as possible, and be responsive to communication from the African Studies Center, when they work out the class schedule in early January.
NOTES
- Credits from language courses, will not count toward your MPH degree.
- Students who can fit the course into their full-time course load (12 – 18 credits) can do so without additional tuition expense.
- A follow-up course may be taught during Fall semester (2016) for returning students who want to further develop their language skills.
Practicum Opportunity: Public Health Student Researcher and Implementer
Company Name: Brookline-Quezalguaque Sister City Project, Inc.
Organization Description/Mission Statement: 28 year partnership between Brookline and Quezalguaque, a rural township in western Nicaragua
Program Description: Public Health Student will be part of a team which will work with the medical system in a rural Nicaraguan town to do several programs. They may include beginning a HPV vaccine for children; continuing to model a comprehensive sex education program for junior high and high school students. Laying the ground work for a hydration campaign to help address an epidemic of Chronic Kidney Disease
Student Scope of Work: Work in a team with Nicaraguan and US workers to address a Central American chronic kidney disease (CKD) epidemic. Work on developing presentations to prevent early pregnancy. Possibly implement a new vaccination campaign for HPV vaccines in children.
Preferred and/or Required Skills: Good Spanish skills, knowledge of epidemiology and public health campaigns, works well with many people, ability to be flexible, willingness to live and work in a rural environment without many resources
Estimated Start Date: After school ends in May 2016
Estimated End Date: 6 weeks later
Estimated Days/Hours: 6 weeks minimum
Number of Students Requested: 4-6
How to Apply: Email Peter Stringham at peter.stringham@gmail.com to set up an interview. Please include a copy of your resume in the email.
Application Deadline: February 29th, 2016
Contact for More Information: Peter Stringham MD
Supervisor Name: Peter Moyer MD and Kea van der Ziel
Supervisor Email Address: petermoyer@comcast.net vanderziel@earthlink.net petermoyer@comcast.net ,vanderziel@earthlink.net
Supervisor Phone Number: Peter 617-592-3313; Kea 617-935-2940
Notes/Comments: The final project is not solid, but will be worked out with the Boston team and the Nicaraguan health officials in the spring. Speaking with past participants might be a help to applicants
Student Spring Semester MBTA Passes – Jan. 11 Deadline
Attention Students: Please note that the deadline for spring semester discounted MBTA pass applications is Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. This is for passes February-May 2016.
You may submit applications before intersession. Apply for spring semester discounted MBTA passes at the TranSComm Office at 710 Albany St. or visit www.bumc.bu.edu/transcomm and print the application, the mail completed application with your check to TranSComm before Jan. 11.
The TranSComm office is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The office will close at 1 p.m. Dec. 24 and will reopen on Jan. 4, 2016. Happy holidays!
Contact Operations Manager Michelle Tse with any questions:
638-7473 Bumctranscomm@gmail.com
Product Manager and Impact & Innovations Fellow positions available in Kenya
MitiHealth is a small, fast-moving social enterprise based in Kenya guided by a belief that leveraging technology and data can drive major improvements in the quality of both medication and primary care.
Two positions are available: Product Manager and Impact & Innovations Fellow.
Product Manager: MitiHealth is seeking a creative and detailed-focused individual to lead product development supported by a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to integrate Safaricom's M-Pesa mobile money services and our Android-based platform and support additional access to credit and financial reporting. Learn more information about the position and how to apply here.
Impact & Innovations Fellow: MitiHealth is seeking a creative and data-driven individual to help identify new approaches to maximizing their impact and operational reach and develop small-scale experiments to evaluate these approaches. Learn more information about the position and how to apply here.
