In an effort to advance the status of women, UGHE has established the Moskovitz Scholarship for Women in Global Health Leadership. This will be awarded annually to incoming MGHD candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to equity and a strong desire to advance global health delivery. Tuition support will be awarded to female MGHD candidates. Award distribution will be determined after a careful evaluation of each candidate’s application and financial need.

Criteria

• Female
• Performed exceptionally well on all stages of the admission process (e.g., application, exam and interview)
• Demonstrated financial need
• Preference will be given to nationals from a country in the East African Community (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda)

Meet the 2019 Moskovitz Scholar:Gloria Igihozo

Gloria Igihozo is from Rwanda and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Messiah College. Before joining the MGHD, Gloria interned at Baho International Hospital in Kigali and served as the chair of the Multicultural Council at Messiah College. Gloria is passionate about serving her community and developing home-grown, contextually and culturally relevant solutions to healthcare challenges in her community. We asked Gloria about what this scholarship meant to her and why she thinks gender equity in global health is important.

How did it feel being a recipient of the Women’s scholarship? What did it change for you?

Being the recipient of the women’s scholarship was an honor for me; it was a life-changing and humbling moment. I had been looking forward to being part of UGHE, and this scholarship was a door opened for me to expand my knowledge in health equity and learn from some of the best scholars in our field. This scholarship means that I would be able to pursue my educational aspirations, without worrying about financial barriers. And so, for me, it is an indication that efforts are being made to ensure that women from all socioeconomic backgrounds are able to receive the same quality of education.

Why is it important that we promote gender equity in global health? What advice do you have for young women who want to pursue global health or other traditionally male-dominated fields?

Women have immense knowledge and experience to provide to the field of global health, but their voices have been silenced or ignored. Women know their local populations best, are affected by disease burden at a higher rate, and have historically been excluded from all social and political sectors of life; healthcare included. In many settings, leadership positions in global health are occupied by men. Thus, promoting gender equity in global health allows us to tap into a rich source of knowledge that humanity has been deprived of for centuries and also bring women’s issues to the forefront of global health movements.

For women who want to pursue global health or other male-dominated fields, my advice is simple: Claim and own your space, be confident in your knowledge, and be unapologetically vocal. It’s easy for us, as women, to shrink ourselves and feel intimidated in work and classroom settings. But, the truth is… knowledge is not sexist nor is it possessed solely by one gender. Women are as capable, and it takes one brave woman to change the narrative. Remember, there are other women (including those who have paved the way for us) rooting for you and eager to see you succeed.

What do you hope to achieve as a female global health leader?

I hope to use my knowledge, power, and resources to put forward the challenges that women across the globe face. I also hope to use the opportunity to empower the next generation of women who are passionate about global health and are driven to improve the health of women. Above all, I hope to work and learn alongside the many women who are actively improving the world and their communities.