Philanthropic Donations Create Opportunities for Research and Training Through Multiple Global Health Grants

September 2026

Donor philanthropy plays an instrumental role in strengthening and expanding research at the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health. Funding to the institute’s nine specialized centers supports vital research ranging from global oncology to global pediatric health to biomedical engineering — all while supporting transdisciplinary educational partnerships. 

Building local capacity and broadening global health knowledge are essential to improving access to quality healthcare for communities around the world. Research programs that address important healthcare needs and invest in sustainable training in low- and middle-income countries help essential knowledge and skills to take hold within local communities. 

Recent donor-funded projects highlight work currently underway across multiple institute centers. The following examples show what that support makes possible. 

Medical Technologies in Global Public Health Student Scholarships: South Africa 

In the Kellogg School of Management's Medical Technologies in Global Public Health course students conduct needs assessments that inform the design and launch of global health medical technologies. Scholarship funding covers travel to South Africa for a typically two-week long trip, where they engage with partners at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, the University of Cape Town, and Stellenbosch University. There, they obtain feedback on exciting innovations funded by the Havey Institute for Global Health and the Center for Innovations in Global Health Technologies, designed to bring point-of-care testing and treatment to hard-to-reach areas. 

Cervical Cancer Screening in Ghana and Kenya 

The highest rates of cervical cancer incidence and related death occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, where approximately 60 percent of all cases are in women living with HIV/AIDS. This makes screening a critical part of healthcare for women in these countries. Through its Center for Global Oncology, the Havey Institute for Global Health is expanding community health worker training for cervical cancer screening to rural and peri-urban communities in Ghana and Kenya, working with partners at the University of Ghana and the Nyanza Reproductive Health Society. The program follows previous models found successful in Nigeria and Mali, utilizing strong partnership with national and local leaders. Through needed philanthropic funding along existing resources and training, the center implements a new cervical cancer screening program with local community health workers in Ghana and Kenya, with the goal of building capacity and a sustainable program for cervical cancer testing for women in high-risk populations for years to come.  

Ugandan Pediatric Resident Exchange 

The Center for Global Pediatric Health currently runs a highly successful residency exchange program with Tanzania, offering visiting residents four-week clinical rotations at Northwestern University and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. Alumni have gone on to secure competitive grants, publish research and improve pediatric subspecialty care in their home communities. Building on this proven model, the center is launching a parallel program for residents from Makerere University in Uganda, one of Africa’s leading medical schools. With curriculum, mentorship and clinical placements already in place, funding covers travel and living expenses for Ugandan residents during their four-week rotations — with the goal of providing transformative training experiences that strengthen pediatric care capacity across Uganda. 

Travel Support for Pediatric Acute Care Simulation Training in Tanzania 

Simulation-based training is a cornerstone of medical education in high-resource settings, giving clinicians essential experience managing emergencies and complex pediatric cases. Such training is rarely available in low-resource environments. To close that gap, the Center for Global Pediatric Health has developed a new pediatric acute care simulation program for residents in Tanzania and secured the necessary equipment for in-country use. Additional funding is needed to bring more physician and nurse educators to Tanzania for hands-on training, and to expand the number of residents who can participate and ensure the ideal teacher-to-learner ratio that leads to stronger clinical skills and better outcomes for acutely ill children. 

Maseno University-Northwestern University Educators Certificate Program (MUNUEd): Kenya 

In June 2025, the Center for Global Health Education and the Center for Global Pediatric Health launched a new joint certificate program in Kenya: the Maseno University–Northwestern University Educators Certificate Program (MUNUEd). Co-taught virtually by Northwestern and Kenyan faculty, this one-year program aims to strengthen the teaching skills of health professions educators across Kenya. Nearly 30 students have already enrolled since its launch. Initial seed funding supported program development and launch, and the centers now utilize philanthropic support to bring two to three Northwestern faculty to Kenya twice each year to lead essential in-person trainings and workshops. At the end of the program, participants design education projects to enhance learning opportunities for their own students.  

Kenya Health Professions Education Conference Expansion 

In 2019, the Havey Institute for Global Health and Maseno University launched a simulation-based education program focused on developing teaching skills for local healthcare faculty members. It has since evolved into an annual national Health Professions Education Conference hosted at Maseno University, focusing on critical skill development for faculty who teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and physical and occupational therapists in Kenya. The three-day conference brings together educators from across Kenya to strengthen teaching skills, share emerging research and advance health professions training nationally. One full day is dedicated to simulation-based education, followed by two days of keynote sessions and interactive seminars.

To learn more about Havey Institute for Global Health, visit their website. 

For more information about supporting the Havey Institute for Global Health, please contact Jenn Burke at jennifer.burke@northwestern.edu or (312)503-4635. 

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