Our Work

Call to Action description
Rooted in a commitment to addressing global and local public health challenges, our lab emphasizes practical, real-world experience in public health research and practice. Through an applied approach to problem-solving, we collaborate with organizations to drive meaningful change and support their public health goals. Our work is dedicated to translating knowledge into action, striving to make a tangible difference in communities worldwide.

Current Projects

paper garland of people holding hands

New Initiatives || Fall 2025

CMMB x Global Volunteering Landscape | Senior Consultant: Diya Mehta

 

CMMB x Qualitative Research Study (QRS) | Senior Consultant: Aakash Mishra

 

Oral Health Initiative | Senior Consultant: Mohak Karambat

 

Pakistan Hifazat Initiative (PHI) | Senior Consultant: Laibah Ashfaq

 

South Sudan & Haiti Health Resilience Collaborative (SHRC) | Senior Consultant: Whitney Rigodon

 

Tanzania Early Development Initiative (TEDI) | Senior Consultant: Gloria Adomaa Mensah Demitia

 
Savannah landscape with river

Climate Resilience and Health

Partner:  Central Androy Regional University (CURA)
 
Senior Consultants: 
Ami Fall and Angali Ramnarayan

 

Addressing climate-driven food insecurity and displacement in Madagascar's Androy region, the team developed systems maps and conducted qualitative research capturing community perspectives. Building on this climate and food access work, the project is expanding to explore maternal and child health. This informs a manuscript under review on resilience adaptation strategies and a scoping review proposal on climate impacts on malnutrition across Sub-Saharan Africa.

People figures around a globe

Global Ethics

Partner: Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB)
 
Senior Consultants: 
Juliana Murillo and Cara Rubin

 

We strengthen equity in volunteer programming through mixed-methods evaluation adaptable for other NGOs. The team analyzed volunteer data to improve orientation and presented the findings at the 2025 NYS Public Health Partnership Conference. We developed survey and interview tools with experts to refine program guidelines and ensure meaningful community engagement.

Medical Supplies

Health Supply Systems Strengthening (HS3)

Partner: The Afya Foundation

Senior Consultants: 
Cindy Zhang and Sneha D'Andrea

 

We map medical supply systems and manage inventory to ensure resources reach areas of greatest need. We build sustainable partnerships to strengthen long-term supply chain resilience. The team produced a report on Sub-Saharan African medical supply chains, presented at Harvard's 2025 Africa Health Conference.

Block of healthcare symbols

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Resilience

Partner: American University of Beirut (AUB)
 
Senior Consultants: 
Samaa Ahmed and Tia El Khoury

 

Strengthening community healthcare in Lebanon amid ongoing conflict, the team develops evidence-based training modules for frontline health workers in collaboration with AUB faculty and Lebanon's Ministry of Health. These modules, now advancing toward certification, empower providers while research examines healthcare worker resilience, establishing foundations for expansion across the MENA region.

Stone footprints

Mycetoma Surveillance and Control

Partners: Arba Minch University, Mycetoma Research Centre, and the WHO Global Mycetoma Working Group
 
Senior Consultant: 
Bethel Abraham

 

Building on evidence from the Mycetoma Research Centre and WHO, this project generates actionable surveillance and control recommendations integrated within Ethiopia's community health and neglected tropical disease priorities. Collaborating with AGPHI alumnus Ezra Jerome, the team strengthens data collection through a mycetoma surveillance application.

Paper garland of family and a stethoscope

Highland Health Access Initiative (HHAI)

Partners: Sullivan 180, Bon Secours Mercy Hospital, and the Sullivan County Department of Health
 
Senior Consultant: 
Sona Fall

 

Mission: Through community-driven solutions and strategic partnerships, Highland Health Access Initiative works to bridge health care gaps by ensuring that every individual, regardless of socioeconomic status, has equitable access to quality care, wellness resources, and education.

 

Vision: A future where the Town of Highland and other rural communities have excellent health care, where no one faces barriers to care. Hand in hand with our community, we strive to build a healthier Sullivan County and rural America.

Recent Projects

Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health | Partner: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) 

Researched climate impacts on adolescent health and strengthened disaster preparedness across Latin America.

 

Maternal and Neonatal Health | Partners: BLOOM Foundation and Anáhuac University of Querétaro 

Supported ultrasound trials to improve early detection of congenital heart disease in low-resource settings.

 

Youth Vaccination | Partner: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)  

Created educational tools to counter vaccine misinformation and build community trust.

 

Past Partnerships

  • Anáhuac Querétaro University (Mexico)
  • Autonomous University of Querétaro (Mexico)
  • Backpack Health Worker Team (BPHWT)
  • Birth Justice Defenders (NYC)
  • BLOOM Foundation
  • Grace Leadership Foundation (Mali)
  • HOPE Springs Nigeria
  • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • Ivory Coast Mothers and Children (ICMC)
  • Kinding Sindaw (Philippines)
  • Mycetoma Research Center (Sudan)
  • Newborn Foundation
  • Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
  • Qmetis Healthcare Tech Company
  • The Lunchbox Fund
  • UNICEF (Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh)
  • UNICEF C4D Team (Myanmar)
  • UNICEF / WHO WCARO
  • UNICEF Myanmar
  • WHEELS Global Foundation
  • WHO Sudan
  • WHO Universal Healthcare Global Partnership (with Dr. Denis Porignon)
  • World Food Programme (WFP)

Publications & Presentations

Publications

CMMB and NYU Partner to Advance Program Evaluation in Global Health Service
Global Health Ethics | 18 November 2025 | By: Anabelle Bunis, Marcia Grand Ortega, Cara Rubin, Juliana Murillo, Iqra Noor, Sahil Singh, Avi Aulakh, and Rhea Nakra

This blog post spotlights the Global Health Ethics team’s collaboration with CMMB and their poster presentation at the New York Public Health Partnership Conference.
Read the blog post here

Lessons Learned from an International Summit of Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening Programs
Letter to the Editor, Neonatology Today | May 2021 | By: Oscar San Roman Orozco

This article highlights key insights from an international summit on newborn pulse oximetry screening programs. 

Read the article here

 

Presentations

Strengthening Sub-Saharan Africa: Overcoming Global Barriers Within the Medical Supply Chain
The Health Supply Systems Strengthening team, led by Madison Crombie and Lab Director Haya Srour, presented at the 2025 Africa Health Conference at Harvard, highlighting findings from their literature review on medical supply chain barriers and opportunities in Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Uganda. They emphasized the potential of digitizing shipping and delivery data to enhance efficiency.

The Impact of Mobility Restriction Measures on the Reproductive Rate of SARS-COV-2 in Queretaro, Mexico
AGPHI consultants presented at the 17th International Conference on Urban Health, conducted by the International Society of Urban Health (2021).

The Impact of Environmental Factors on Human Health
AGPHI Senior Consultant, Oscar San Roman, presented at the International Conference and the POP festival for the Youth-Led Climate Action Conference (2021).

Racial Determinants of Health Toolkit
AGPHI consultants designed a Racial Determinants of Health Toolkit Infographic in response to the national uprising for racial justice following the murder of George Floyd. The toolkit presents public health statistics that identify the negative health outcomes that result from racial inequality in the United States (2020).