Global Health News
Latest News
Read the latest news from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Havey Institute for Global Health. The links below take you to articles where you can learn more about our members’ latest achievements, discoveries and honors. To view past Institute newsletters and other announcements, visit here. Subscribe to our listserv to receive all Institute communications here.
Murphy Honored as Distinguished Leader in Global Health
Robert Murphy, MD, executive director of the Havey Institute for Global Health, has been honored with the 2026 Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Distinguished Leadership in Global Health Award.
Tracking Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Peru with DNA Sequencing
Leaders from the Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution (CPGME) traveled to Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) in Lima, Peru in late April for trainings in bacterial DNA extraction, genomic sequencing and bioinformatics. This training was performed as part of the Global Genomic Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (GENOSAR) project, of which UPCH is one of four global surveillance sites.
New System Improves TB Testing for People Living With HIV
For people living with HIV (PLHIV), a weakened immune system can lead to increased risk of potentially life-threatening infections like Tuberculosis (TB). A team from the Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN), in collaboration with the Havey Institute for Global Health, has created a system called the Drizzle Health MagnaSlide to improve TB testing for enhanced diagnosis and treatment.
New Tongue Swab Testing Improves TB Detection
A team from the Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN), is spearheading innovative research for easy-to-collect TB testing with tongue swabs.
AI-Enabled Smart Microscope Platform Supports Low-Resource Settings
A team at the Havey Institute for Global Health, in collaboration with Mobile Imaging Innovations, Inc, a Chicago-based company, has developed a smart microscope platform specifically designed for use in low-resource environments. Leading the project is Mamoudou Maiga, MD, PhD, associate director of the Center for Global Oncology.
Podcast Rewind: A New Center for Global Pediatric Health with Drs. Sahera Dirajlal-Fargo and Colleen Fant
In this Explore Global Health podcast rewind, Colleen Fant, MD, MPH, and Sahera Dirajlal-Fargo, DO, co-directors of the Center for Global Pediatric Health, discuss their goals for the center, their own journeys in global pediatric health as well as emerging trends and challenges in pediatric care worldwide.
Pediatric Study Examines Cognitive Challenges in Adolescent HIV
A new study from the Center for Global Pediatric Health explores neurocognitive challenges for young adults with HIV. Many adolescents and young adults who were born with HIV continue to experience challenges with memory, attention and other thinking skills—even when their HIV is well controlled with medication. While scientists still don’t fully understand why this happens, the pediatrics team from the center is working to determine those causations.
Simulation-Based Education to Improve the Care of Acutely Ill Children in Tanzania
Situational learning offers opportunities to improve medical education and ultimately patient care longterm. When the Center for Global Pediatric Health collaborated with Bugando Medical Center in Tanzania to determine a need for these advancements in global pediatric care, they implemented a simulation-based system.
Partnership with Bugando Medical Center Builds Global Educational Experiences and Improves Pediatric Care
At the Center for Global Pediatric Health, collaboration is a key element to their ongoing advancements to pediatric care. That collaboration is highlighted through the relationship between Bugando Medical Center in Tanzania and Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, a partnership built to cultivate global educational experiences and improve pediatric care globally.
Cohort Working to Advance Hepatitis B Care and Elimination in Africa
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health challenge across sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among individuals co-infected with HIV who are at risk of accelerated liver disease progression and poorer outcomes. To address this, a team from the Havey Institute for Global Health established the African HIV/HBV Co-infection/HBV Clinical Research Network (H2Net), a collaborative research partnership.
Early Diagnosis for Avian Influenza Can Prevent Threat of Pandemic
Since 2021, avian influenza virus has caused more than 300 million wild bird and domestic poultry losses, and with the potential to spread to humans, this massive global burden could create a major pandemic threat. A team from the Center for Innovation in Global Health Technologies (CIGHT) is developing an avian influenza test for quick and early diagnosis to prevent that.
Partnerships in Health Professions Education Bring Northwestern Faculty to UGHE for Certificate Program
Northwestern faculty visited the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda as instructors in the post-graduate Health Professions Education certificate program. This opportunity arose from the Partnerships for Advancement in Global Health Professions Education (PAGHE) project, which is funded by a Global Innovation Challenge Award.
Global Innovation Challenge Award Funds Groundbreaking Research for Northwestern Investigators
Seed research funding is pivotal to the development of partnerships and data gathering to support initial findings. Recognizing that need, the Havey Institute for Global Health created the Global Innovation Challenge Award.
Imran Morhason-Bello Receives Excellence Award in Research Award
Longtime Havey Institute for Global Health partner and collaborator Imran O. Morhason-Bello, MBBS, MD, PhD, professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, recently received the 2025 Excellence Award in Research by the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Nigeria (SOGON).
Strohm Family Funds Cervical Cancer Screening in Ghana and Kenya
Cervical cancer screening is a critical part of healthcare for women in Sub-Saharan Africa. With the support of funding from the Strohm family, research led by Principal Investigator (PI) Lifang Hou, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Global Oncology, has extended to low- and middle-income areas in Ghana and Kenya.
Self-Sampling–Based HPV Testing Offers New Solutions for Vulnerable Communities in South America
Researchers from the Center for Global Oncology are addressing challenges in Chile, where cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern. By adapting innovations in at-home self-sample collection and near point-of-care HPV testing, the team is piloting an approach to generate real-world evidence that can inform scalable screening models—both across South America and in vulnerable communities in the United States.
Northwestern’s Health on the Roll Mobile Clinic Breaks Barriers to Cancer Prevention in West Africa
In Nigeria and Mali, many women do not have access to medical care like cervical cancer screening and treatment. A team from the Center for Global Oncology at the Havey Institute for Global Health created the Health on the Roll mobile clinic to address these issues.
Center for Global Oncology Co-Leads AHPBCC 2025 in Johannesburg
The Africa HepatoPancreatoBiliary Cancer Consortium (AHPBCC) held its fourth annual scientific conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, featuring presentations from members of the Center for Global Oncology.
Buehler Center Evaluation Program Supports Faculty Global Health Projects
At the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics, the Buehler Center Evaluation Program provides evaluation and research methods support to researchers. Led by Sarah Welch, MPH, the program offers services to strengthen the evaluation and research capacity of community organizations in Chicago and beyond.
Kohli-Lynch Leads Course on Decision-Analytic Modelling
Public health students at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa convened last August to learn decision-analytic modelling for health economic evaluation from Ciaran Kohli-Lynch, PhD, MS, assistant professor of Epidemiology in the department of Preventive Medicine and member of the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics.
With Overdose Deaths Down, New Dashboard Watches for Rebound
Lori A. Post, PhD, director of the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics within the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM), Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and the Havey Institute for Global Health, discusses the recently launched OD Pulse, a dashboard that uses newly interpolated U.S. Census population estimates to calculate monthly overdose death rates, allowing direct comparisons between regions and over time.
Wearable Technology Offers Solution to Improve Patient Monitoring
Monitoring hospitalized patients' vital signs is crucial to address challenges and provide a wireless system. A team including members from the Buehler Center for Health Policy and Economics and Center for Innovation in Global Health Technologies (CIGHT) at the Havey Institute for Global Health is researching how to improve hospital care in Ghana through innovative wearable technology systems.
Students Collaborate to Solve Global Health Concern at Intramural Case Competition
Students from throughout Northwestern collaborated to pitch solutions to complex, real-world global health challenges at the Intramural Global Health Case Competition. A part of the Havey Institute for Global Health's 14th annual Global Health Day, the competition challenged students to present solutions to the case, Tackling Pediatric Malaria in Nigeria.
Global Health Day Celebrates Research and International Collaboration
Northwestern students, faculty, staff and community partners shared and recognized global health research, education and outreach at the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health’s 14th annual Global Health Day on November 19.
A Career in Global Health Leads to Continued Equity Research for Van Pelt
Amelia Van Pelt, PhD, MPH, is the associate director of Research for the Ryan Family Center for Global Primary Care. Her research focuses on improving the health of marginalized populations in resource-limited settings.
Podcast Rewind: Trailblazing a Path in Global Health with Lisa R. Hirschhorn, MD, MPH
In this Explore Global Health with Rob Murphy, MD, podcast rewind, Lisa Hirschhorn, MD, MPH, talks about her trailblazing career filled with challenges and opportunities that led her to become director of the Ryan Family Center for Global Primary Care.
SHELTER Tea Champions Program Supports Childhood Health and Education at Tea Plantations in India
Poverty and limited access to education and healthcare in Assam, India leads to long-term health and wellbeing issues, and addressing these challenges is an important global initiative. Working toward that initiative, the Ryan Family Center for Global Primary Care created the SHELTER Tea Champions program to improve health and education for children.
New Study Reveals Barriers to Healthcare for Older Adults in Nigeria
A team from the Havey Institute for Global Health, working with collaborators at the University of Lagos in Nigeria, has identified barriers to primary care experiences in Nigeria for older people—findings which may lead to the improvement of health services needed for access and care to help healthy aging.
Nwaba Named Havey Institute for Global Health Post-Graduate Fellow
Adaure Nwaba, MD, MS, surgical resident in the Division of Plastic Surgery, has been named the 2025-2026 Havey Institute for Global Health Post-Graduate Fellow, which recognizes post-graduate trainees at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine by promoting innovative global health research, education and training programs.
Hultquist and Mateen Vested as Endowed Professors
Seventeen Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine faculty members recently appointed to endowed professorships were formally recognized at a group investiture ceremony on October 3. Judd Hultquist, PhD, associate director of the Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, and Farrah Mateen, MD, PhD, member of the Program for Global Neurology, were among the honorees.
Global Health Experience Rotations Give Students New Perspectives with On-Site Opportunities
Through Global Health Experience rotations, the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health and its international partners give students the opportunity to observe and participate in health systems and programs that differ from their experiences in U.S.-based institutions. These global health experiences work in tandem with their academic programs to ensure robust learning experiences which contribute to their overall academic training.Student Advisory Committee on Global Health Fosters Community Engagement with Faculty
The Student Advisory Committee on Global Health (SACGH), a student group at the Feinberg School of Medicine that works closely with the Havey Institute for Global Health, raises student interest in the field of global health and connect students to faculty mentors. Through varied current initiatives, the group links students to opportunities and career mentorship to further explore specific interests.
Ethics and Global Health Travel with Judith Lasker, PhD
In this podcast rewind, we revisit the first episode of our Explore Global Health with Rob Murphy, MD podcast. Judith Lasker, PhD, author of Hoping to Help: The Promises and Pitfalls of Global Health Volunteering and co-founder of Advocacy for Global Health Partnerships, talks about the differences between sustainable global health programs and volunteer fly-in medical missions.
Havey Institute Marks Milestones in Global Health at Annual Benefit
Almost 300 donors, members, and friends came together on September 17 to celebrate the transformative work of the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health at its 18th annual benefit dinner.
Traveling Doctors' Bequest Aims to Boost Global Health at Northwestern
For Kim Bass, ’87 MD, and Ben Gulli, ’87 MD, of St. Paul, Minnesota, global health is not just a keen interest, but a way of life marked by hard work, leading by example and giving back. It is this passion that led the alums to make a bequest to their alma mater benefiting the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health at the medical school. They hope that their gift will provide funds to medical trainees eager to make a difference abroad.
Leading Sustainable Global Health with Robert J. Havey, MD
Northwestern Medicine primary care physician Robert J. Havey, MD, has always been motivated by patient relationships. As he advanced in his career, these relationships shaped his approach to the future of global health. As both the namesake of the recently endowed Havey Institute for Global Health and deputy director for the Ryan Family Center for Global Primary Care, Havey shares insight on ensuring the longevity of global health efforts for generations to come.
The Impact of Giving at the Havey Institute for Global Health
Through donor philanthropy, the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health funds nine specialized centers and programs, conducts research spanning topics from global oncology to biomedical engineering and supports transdisciplinary educational partnerships.
Third Annual Palliative Care Symposium Held at LUTH
The third Annual Palliative Care Symposium took place at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and brought together clinicians, nurses and public health practitioners to explore best practices to deliver high-quality palliative care. The "Palliative Care in Nursing" event was supported by the Mullooly Carey Foundation, the Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs and a Havey Institute for Global Health catalyzer award.
African Oncology Conference Advances Research Through Collaboration
The African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) is a National Cancer Institute–recognized research consortium that brings together 31 medical institutions across Nigeria and four partner institutions in the United States and Canada. Havey Institute for Global Health member Juliet Lumati, MD, MPH, and her team presented their research on the financial navigation of cancer care.
Surgery Team Evaluates Surgical Care for Infants in Zambia and Peru
Surgeons at the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health are working to evaluate delays to surgical intervention for children with open spinal cord defects in Zambia. Their research explores the disproportionate increase in the number of children born with congenital spinal cord defects, as well as the fact that neurosurgical care is only provided in the capital city of Lusaka with transfer from remote districts.
Lumati Leads Research on the Impact of Financial Catastrophe and Cancer Care
Over the past 10 years, Juliet Lumati, MD, MPH, has studied how health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are designed—or often not designed—to protect patients from the financial risks of surgical and cancer care. With the support of the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health Global Health Catalyzer Award, Lumati and her team are able to study the link between finances and cancer care.
The Path to Global Neurosurgery with Sandi Lam, MD, MBA
Sandi Lam, MD, MBA, is a Lurie Children’s world renowned specialist in the areas of epilepsy surgery and neurovascular surgery and a leader in building capacity for a sustainable program to elevate pediatric epilepsy care in Uganda. But her path into medicine and global health wasn’t linear. In this episode, Lam talks about how a career in sales with a technology startup led her down the path she is on today and how she is working to change global pediatric epilepsy care through collaboration and innovation.
Northwestern Scientists and Biomedical Engineering Students Contribute to Low-Field MRI System to Diagnose Tuberculosis Meningitis in Children
A group supported by the Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN) built a point-of-care low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for improved imaging for diagnosis of tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) in children.
C-THAN Aims to Strengthen Cervical Cancer Prevention Efforts Through Point-of-Care HPV Diagnostics
The Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN) Dissemination Core draws on more than 16 years of experience conducting needs assessments for point-of-care (POC) technologies.
Strengthening Grants Management Through Institutional Collaboration and Capacity Building
Makerere University, in partnership with Northwestern University, is spearheading the E-SMAC G11 Grants Administration and Management workshop July 14 to 17, aimed at strengthening grant management offices and systems among the participating universities and entities.
Using Tongue Swabs to Diagnose Tuberculosis
In South Africa and other countries with high burden of TB, a team from the Center for Innovation in Global Health Technologies (CIGHT) has supported the development of a new process to use tongue swabs for easier TB diagnosis.
Transforming Global Health Through Wireless Technology with John A. Rogers
In this episode, John A. Rogers, PhD, a pioneering material scientist and founder of stretchable bioelectronics, discusses his career and groundbreaking work on wireless health monitoring systems, which are now being used in low-and-middle income countries to improve maternal and fetal health and surgical recovery.Past News
2025 Stories
Gerardin Leads Team to Reduce Global Malaria Burden, January 2025
Hepatitis B Network Addresses Key Research Gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa, January 2025
Working at Full Capacity, January 2025
Institute Staff Attend Grant Funding Workshop, February 2025
New Study Implements Integrated Care Approaches for Patients with HIV and Cardiovascular Disease, February 2025
Study Assesses Burden of Aging-Related Comorbidities in People Living with HIV, February 2025
Study on Blood Biomarkers of Trans Fatty Acids Hopes to Reduce Heart Disease Burden in Nigeria, February 2025
Prioritizing Care for Persons with HIV and Cardiovascular Disease, February 2025
Havey Institute for Global Health Welcomes UASP Fellows, March 2025
Mobile Clinic Brings Healthcare to Women in West Africa, March 2025
Northwestern Team Places Third at International Global Health Case Competition, April 2025
SU/NU Global Health Knowledge Hub Official Launch, April 2025
Tracking Respiratory Viruses in Peru and Bolivia, April 2025
Exploring the Emergence of Fungal and Bacterial Infections in Pakistan, April 2025
Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution Leads Workshop on Infectious Diseases, April 2025
Pathogen Genomics Symposium Highlights Application of New Technologies to Study Global Human Infections, April 2025
Shaping Ethical Global Health Education with Ashti Doobay-Persaud, MD, May 2025
Frontiers in Education Research Collection Brings Global Issues to the Forefront, May 2025
Global Health Education Day Celebrates Mentorship and Collaboration, May 2025
Lumati Awarded Global Oncology Award from ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation, June 2025
Koralnik Leads Team Researching Neurologic Manifestations of Long COVID, June 2025
Investigating Long Covid in Africa and South America with Gina Perez-Giraldo, MD, June 2025
Neurology Team Working to Improve Stroke Care in Nigeria, June 2025
Long COVID Research in Colombia Evaluates Brain Fog, June 2025
Northwestern and Stellenbosch University Launch Hub for Global Health Knowledge, June 2025
2024 Stories
Global Health Education Day 2024
The Heart Health Benefits of Urban Green and Blue Spaces, July 2024
Lumati Named Associate Director of Center for Global Surgery, September 2024
Annual Havey Institute for Global Health Dinner Celebrates Healthcare Work Around the World, September 2024
Institute Hosts Members of NIH Funded Grant, October 2024
Gravitt Discusses Cancer Health Disparities Research at October IGH Seminar, October 2024
Global Pediatric Health
How Impactful Partnerships Begin: Building Strong Relationships One Person at a Time, September 2024
Practice Makes Perfect: Pediatric Simulation Delivers Better Health Outcomes in Kenya, September 2024
Why Building Capacity Is Key to Deliver Better Global Health Outcomes, September 2024
Bidirectional Exchange with Bugando Medical Center Paves the Way for True Global Health Partnership, September 2024
Stellenbosch/Northwestern Universities Knowledge Hub
First Annual Global Health Knowledge Hub Joint Conference to Focus on Bidirectional Partnership, October 2024
Working Groups Drive Innovation and Collaboration at Global Knowledge Hub, October 2024
The Stellenbosch/Northwestern Global Health Knowledge Hub: a first look at the new on-campus facility in South Africa, October 2024
Northwestern Launches Global Health Knowledge Hub with South Africa’s Stellenbosch University, October 2024
Mobile Oncology Clinic
Learn More About the Work Done by IGH Center for Global Oncology, November 2024
Bridging the Divide: Why Health on the Roll Mobile Clinic Brings New Hope, November 2024
Center for Global Oncology Unveils Mobile Clinic for HPV Testing, November 2024
Global Health Day
Students Compete in Intramural Global Health Case Competition, December 2024
Global Health Day Highlights International Collaboration, December 2024