Student Advisory Committee on Global Health Fosters Community Engagement with Faculty

October 2025

The Student Advisory Committee on Global Health (SACGH) is a student group at the Feinberg School of Medicine that works closely with the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health (IGH) to raise student interest in the field of global health and connect students to faculty mentors. Since 2022, the group has been chaired by Arthi Kozhumam, Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) second year graduate student, and is currently co-run by Kozhumam; Emily Guo, MSTP second year medical student; and Daniel Amusin, MSTP second year graduate student.  

“The SACGH is an important initiative that reduces the activation energy needed for students at Northwestern to build new connections and opportunities in global health,” Kozhumam said. 

Arthi Kozhumam, a student in Feinberg’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), presented her research on the effectiveness of social media outreach and peer support for young men living with HIV in Nigeria at Global Health Day. (Photo: Randy Belice)

The SACGH works to increase interest in global health, primarily among medical and graduate students, and links students to opportunities and career mentorship to further explore specific interests. The group began as an IGH initiative, and became an official Feinberg student group in July 2025, with increased partnerships with the undergraduate campus through faculty advisor William Leonard, PhD, professor of Preventive Medicine in the Division of Behavioral Medicine and the Watkins Family Professor of Global Health in the Weinberg College of Art and Sciences. He is also co-director of the Center Global Health Education in the Havey Institute for Global Health.  

Emily Guo, a student in Feinberg’s Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), shared her poster presentation on small group dinners increasing faculty-student engagement in global health at Global Health Education Day. (Photo: Randy Belice) 

Current Initiatives of the Committee 

To date, the group has conducted nearly 20 student-faculty dinners, four panel events and included more than 50 undergraduate students in their mentorship program. 

“The SACGH is committed to expanding global health engagement opportunities for students and trainees across the Chicago and Evanston campuses,” Leonard said. “The committee will work closely with the Havey Institute for Global Health to raise student interest in global health and to connect students to relevant faculty mentors.” 

Through this committee, students have the unique opportunity to work alongside institute leaders to help shape opportunities for global health outreach at Northwestern University. The committee’s activities foster an understanding of medical systems and community engagement on a global scale, cultivate career exploration and build connection with faculty mentors through a longitudinal student mentorship program, monthly student-faculty dinners and fieldwork panel events.  

Faculty members from both the Chicago and Evanston campuses are invited to join monthly dinners and to participate in career mentorship for Feinberg students. The group invites faculty working across disciplines and prioritizes those who are less integrated within the Feinberg medical curriculum to increase opportunities to meet with additional faculty members.  

“By bringing faculty to students in a more intimate, low stakes environment, students can feel more comfortable asking about their background and opportunities without needing to cold email directly or find them after a lecture,” Kozhumam said. 

With nine specialized centers and programs, the Havey Institute for Global Health faculty are invited to participate in intimate dinners with 10-12 students. These dinners often lead to additional research and fieldwork collaborations.  

“We have shown great success with our faculty dinner series, with more than five students having begun new research projects through this initiative,” Guo said. 

Other events the committee has spearheaded include a World AIDS Day panel, which has been held annually for many years, and was incorporated into the Havey Institute for Global Health’s annual Global Health Day in 2023. The event is an annual celebration of global health collaboration and research.

Shannon Galvin, MD, associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, shares her insights during the World AIDS Day panel discussion during Global Health Day 2023. (Photo: Randy Belice) 

What’s Next for the Committee 

The SACGH aims to continue its growth and offerings for medical students.  

“We are always looking for new ideas about how to continue to strengthen student interest in global health,” Guo said. 

In November, the SACGH will host a dinner to bring together global health students from across the educational spectrum. “As the faculty advisor for the SACGH, it has been a pleasure working with Arthi and Emily to plan the strategic goals and activities for the coming year,” Leonard said.

To learn more about the Student Advisory Committee on Global Health (SACGH), visit their website. 

For more information on Global Health Day, visit their website. 

For details on events, news and funding opportunities, sign up for the Havey Institute for Global Health newsletter.