10 Years Impact, Graduation of the First Medical Cohort and the 10th of the MGHD
The late Dr. Paul Farmer imagined a world where quality healthcare is not determined by geography or wealth but recognized as a fundamental human right. That vision led to the founding of the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), an institution built to train …
Meet Sam Kamali in A Journey into the UGHE’s Inaugural MBBS–MGHD Program
As the University of Global Health Equity marks 10 years of impact, we celebrate a historic milestone: the graduation of the inaugural MBBS–MGHD class. In this Q&A, we speak with Sam Kamali, one of the 30 graduating students from this pioneering cohort. Sam reflects on his …
From Stethoscope to Systems Change: Dr. Jean Eric Niyitanga on the Power of Equity in Action
This Q&A highlights an insightful conversation with Dr. Jean Eric Niyitanga, a student in Master of Science in Global Health Delivery – Health Management option. We discussed his journey from clinical practice to transformational systems-level work, and his commitment to health equity. …
Community First: Sarah Warunee Derichs’s Vision for the Future of Healthcare
At the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), we believe in empowering students with the spirit and vision to challenge the status quo and transform the landscape of healthcare delivery. There is a sense of satisfaction in graduating a leader like Sarah Warunee Derichs, whose passion for equity …
912Rwanda is Saving More Lives in the Golden Hour
When a serious injury happens, every minute counts. The world has built emergency systems around the idea of a “golden hour”, the first 60 minutes after major trauma. Rapid, coordinated care can determine whether a patient survives and recovers. In high-income countries, …
Five Days, 69 Surgeries, Waiting List Cleared at Butaro Hospital
Surgical conditions account for nearly 30% of the global disease burden, yet billions still lack timely, safe, and affordable care. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery shows surgery is central to universal health coverage and highlights the role of non-urban facilities. Rwanda …
UGHE Faculty in World’s Top 2% Scientists: Rwanda’s Model for Impact
In Rwanda, research doesn’t sit on a shelf. It moves; into clinics, classrooms, and policy rooms. That spirit just earned fresh recognition: different scientists linked to the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) are named in the latest Stanford-Elsevier list of the …
The Essence of Giving Back: Dr. Kelsey Ripp’s Quiet Contribution in One Health
At first glance, “One Health” can sound abstract, like an academic term that lives on slides and in strategy documents. For Dr. Kelsey Ripp, Assistant Professor in UGHE’s School of Medicine and the Centre for One Health, it’s the opposite: One Health …
Advancing Health Equity Through Empowering Women in Surgery
The stakes for safe surgery are high. Each year, 260,000 mothers die from complications during childbirth, with improperly performed C-sections being a major contributor. The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) recorded 203 maternal deaths per 100,000 births in 2024. Globally, …
The Essence of Giving Back: Dr. Lars Osterberg’s Inspiring Impact
The red dirt roads of Butaro stretch endlessly, weaving through the scenic Rwandan hills, a world away from the lawns of Stanford University. Yet for Dr. Lars Osterberg, the distance between these two places has collapsed into something familiar; a conviction that …
The Essence of Giving Back: Definition by Dr. Florence Akiiki Bitalabeho
Dr. Akiiki’s smile widens whenever she hears the phrase “giving back.” For her, it is not just a charity saying from afar, but a daily practice rooted in community, humility, and accountability. Born and raised on the green hills of western Uganda, …
Transforming Trauma Care: How iPrOTeCT is Shaping Global Equity
Every year, injuries kill 4.4 million people worldwide – nearly 8% of all deaths globally. Behind these statistics lies a deeper crisis: countless survivors living with trauma that extends far beyond physical wounds into economic hardship and social isolation. This reality drove …
