Applied Global Public Health Initiative
Collaborating to develop innovative, systems-based competencies to apply needs-driven, equitable solutions for sustainable global public health development.
About the Lab
The Applied Global Public Health Initiative (AGPHI) is a student run, service-based initiative working to create better health circumstances in New York City and beyond through collaborating with outside organizations to find innovative solutions to public health problems. Composed of undergraduate and graduate students, this lab is overseen by Dr. Chris Dickey and focuses on project-based global public health research in partnership with industry sponsors and frequently hosts renowned guest speakers to discuss creative solutions to public health issues around the world. By working with small, up-and-coming NGOs to ministries of health to larger UN agencies, the lab seeks to develop and nurture applicable, thoughtful and practical skills for our future careers. In doing so, we work to expand our understanding of what it means to be public health practitioners. Overarching research initiatives focus on global public health challenges that require an applied approach to problem solving. During our all-lab weekly meetings, we exchange ideas, discuss current events through a global health lens, and share opportunities for growth on our various projects.
Pillars & Ongoing Projects:
I) Climate Change Projects:
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1. Climate-Related Food Security Project in Madagascar
The people of Madagascar face severe food insecurity and famine amid natural disasters fueled by the climate crisis. The Androy region has experienced the brunt of the effects of the climate crisis with increased health issues and population migration.
The Climate-Related Food Security Project has created a systems map based on available research and grey literature, followed by a qualitative study in food-insecure regions of southern Madagascar to gain an on-the-ground perspective of the issues communities face.
The team has co-authored the article, Assessing resilience adaptation strategies for communities facing climate change in Androy, Southern Madagascar, to disseminate findings. The article is under review with our partners at the Central Androy Regional University (CURA) in Madagascar.
Team Leads: Aline Mutabazi and Ami Fall
The Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region grapples with a multitude of challenges, including natural disasters, migration, and forced displacement. These crises disproportionately impact adolescent youth, particularly in the area of sexual and reproductive health (SRH).
The Adolescent SRH Team, in collaboration with PAHO, is working to compile a technical brief exploring climate change and its disproportionate effect on vulnerable communities– specifically, adolescents and indigenous groups in the LAC region. Over the past year, the Literature Review Team has gathered background information on the intersectionality of adolescent SRH and climate change and the Social Listening Team has tracked internet chatter across LAC. Now, the Interview Team is working to bolster the quantitative data with qualitative data by conducting interviews with stakeholders on the ground in Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, and Puerto Rico to assess current programming needs.
Team Lead: Nadia Seling-Wober
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3. NGO Decolonization Team/ Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB)
The NGO Decolonization team is developing a methodology to evaluate the adherence of CMMB volunteers to ethical guidelines for global health volunteering. This methodology will serve to 1) enable the CMMB Volunteer Program to track progress toward the development of an equitable, responsible, and impactful program design, and 2) Establish a mixed-methods evaluation methodology that can be used by other NGOs seeking to conduct similar evaluations.
Over the past year, the team has developed a survey to be administered to CMMB field supervisors with the collaboration of leading experts in the field, including Dr. Judith Lasker and Dr. Lakshmi Balaji. They have also developed an interview guide for field supervisors to provide feedback on the guidelines for their refinement.
Team Lead: Anabelle Bunis
III) Medical Supply Chain/ Health Systems Strengthening Projects:
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4. AFYA
AFYA partners with hospitals and organizations, collecting, repairing, and redirecting medical supplies to over 80 countries including international organizations, hospitals, and clinics worldwide. The AFYA team focuses on systems mapping to understand and optimize the flow of medical resources among suppliers and receivers, conduct detailed inventory analysis and management to ensure supplies reach areas of greatest need, and work on building and forming sustainable partnerships with stakeholders worldwide. They have drafted a 5-page report looking into the medical supply chain in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Team Lead: Madison Crombie
IV) Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Projects:
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5. Queretaro MNH
The MNH Team collaborates with multiple stakeholders including the BLOOM foundation, Queretaro, and a university in Mexico to understand the needs of maternal, neonatal, and child health in the area. This project has contributed to clinical trials for ultrasounds to diagnose congenital heart disease for mothers in low-resource communities in Queretaro and collecting data through surveys and continues to expand as it aims to address a range of public health issues in Mexico and beyond.
Team Leads: Luis Gomez-Escobar and Lorena Lee
V) Non-Communicable Diseases Projects:
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6. Mycetoma Surveillance and Control in Ethiopia
Drawing from a pool of mycetoma literature, surveillance protocols, and control evidence base generated by the Mycetoma Research Centre and members of the WHO Global Mycetoma Working Group, this project aims to provide a succinct, actionable set of mycetoma surveillance and control recommendations nested within Ethiopia's existing community health and neglected tropical disease (NTD) priorities. The project works in collaboration with Arba Minch University and AGPHI alumni Ezra Jerome, who helped develop the mycetoma surveillance application.
Team Lead: Nate Maxey
VI) Health Education Projects:
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7. MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Project
Building on a foundation of public health education resources and expertise, this project focuses on finalizing a series of educational modules designed to strengthen community healthcare in Lebanon during this critical period. Drawing on insights from a collaborator at the Ministry of Health, the modules integrate evidence-based approaches tailored to the needs of community health workers. The project seeks to align with Lebanon’s broader health priorities, empowering healthcare providers to address pressing challenges effectively. Looking ahead, the team aims to expand the initiative to the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, building on this foundation, while simultaneously pursuing new opportunities to address public health needs in Lebanon.
Team Leads: Tia El Khoury, Maya Moukarzel, and Sateshwar Singh
8. Youth Vaccination Team - PAHO
In collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), this project focuses on the development of vaccination education modules aimed at improving public awareness and understanding of vaccinations. The modules are designed to educate communities, foster informed decision-making, and encourage individuals to share accurate vaccination information within their networks. By combining our lab’s expertise with PAHO’s resources and outreach, the project seeks to support global efforts to increase vaccination coverage and combat misinformation, ultimately contributing to improved public health outcomes.
Team Leads: Sneha D'Andrea, Luis Gomez-Escobar, and Natalia Ramon
Executive Board:
Directors:
Haya Srour
Project Managers:
Penelope Quinton
Nene Uwaomah
Financial Advisor:
Alex Schwaderer
Events Officer:
Juliana Murillo
Engagement and Communications Officer:
Ami Fall
Get Involved
To get involved, please email gphinitiative@gmail.com to express your interest.