University of Global Health Equity forges new partnership with Duke University’s GHI

RWANDA— Rwandan-based University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI), have signed a strategic partnership agreement to advance research and clinical trials in Global surgery.

More than a dozen DGHI faculty and staff had traveled to Rwanda to explore opportunities for collaboration with the new East African partner.

The meeting, hosted by the UGHE is the next step in what DGHI leaders hope will be a deepening relationship with researchers and clinicians across the region.

The meeting highlighted existing and potential partnerships across East Africa to advance research and clinical training in global surgery, mental health, implementation science, and other areas.

Among the projects presented was a global surgery course co-taught by DGHI Professor Henry Rice that is jointly offered to students at Duke and UGHE.

Moreover, DGHI partners from Moi University in Kenya, the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Tanzania, and the University of Cape Town in South Africa joined to discuss areas for future research collaboration.

At the meeting, DGHI Director Chris Beyrer, M.D., led the signing of the memorandum of understanding with UGHE.

Dr. Beyrer said forging new ties with UGHE and across other partnerships will enhance DGHI’s commitment to the region and carry on Farmer’s legacy of improving health access through equitable partnerships. 

“There is ample opportunity for mutually beneficial collaboration, not only between us and UGHE but between UGHE and some of our long-term partners in the region,” Dr. Beyrer said.

Dr. Beyrer added that DGHE hoped that this would become an annual East African meeting to share ideas and explore new ways to work together.

A new university training the next leaders in global health

The University of Global Health Equity is based in Rwanda and is on a mission to build the next generation of global health professionals i.e., doctors, nurses, researchers, and public health and policy experts, into leaders and changemakers.

The institutions boast of a new curriculum and teaching methodology to reimagine health education to ensure that quality health care reaches every individual in every corner of the globe.

Importantly, UGHE is an initiative of Partners in Health and is led by internationally recognized faculty and staff from around the world.

Moreover, it was launched in 2015 by Duke alumnus the late Dr. Paul Farmer to train a new generation of global health leaders in East Africa.

Additionally, as an independent university that builds on PIH’s three decades of experience in delivering health services to some of the world’s poorest communities.

UGHE ranking goes up

The Kigali-based education institution has been ranked 8th in the Times Higher Education’s Sub-Saharan Africa Universities rankings for 2023.

Moreover, UGHE scored particularly highly on Africa Impact, ranking second out of 88 on that metric.

UGHE acknowledges that achieving a top ten ranking for is a testament to the dedication of UGHE’s leadership, faculty, and staff in providing high-quality education and research and the unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes and social systems to protect the most vulnerable.

The TIMES ranking takes great consideration of an institution’s teaching, research, and societal impact, with five pillars assessed: resources and finance, access and fairness, teaching skills, student engagement, and African impact.

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