The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded $209.5 million to The Public Health Institute (PHI), in order to help it in its Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP).The Program aims to form a large and diversified group of talented health professionals.
There has been a previous USAID agreement with PHI for GHFP-I. However, the present award is almost twice the previous agreement. This is to honor and recognize PHI’s excellent service provided to fellows and interns, in the fields of recruitment, placement and career development of fellows and interns not only in Washington, D.C., but also abroad.
Sharon Rudy, Ph.D., program director of GHFP, said,“USAID has given us a great opportunity to continue supporting the vision and the work of its Global Health Bureau. With the advent of GHFP-II, we look forward to deepening that relationship by building on the systems we already have in place, and by expanding in ways that will benefit the Agency. Our goal is to continue bringing high-caliber, diverse talent to USAID in the most efficient way possible and to ensure that fellows, and the USAID staff who support them, receive the performance support needed to be successful and produce results.
PHI helps the fellows throughout the program. It helps them in recruitment, establishing compensation, etc. It provides quality support to program participants, on-site managers and USAID. At present, GHFP includes 120 junior through senior fellows, who ususllay take part in the program for two to four years, and also many interns, who join the program for short periods, throughout the year, and who are usually exposed to international health work for the first time.
“USAID is giving PHI a vote of confidence in our ability to successfully work together to create the next generation of global health professionals. PHI has built this program from the ground up with USAID and increased the number of participating fellows and interns beyond the original goals. We look forward to continuing to exceed expectations,” said Mary A. Pittman, DrPH, president and CEO of PHI.
PHI, at present, has many plans. PHI, along with its partner CDC Development Solutions (CDS), aims to conduct short-term, private sector fellowships. Another partner of PHI,Management Systems International, will help provide professional development. GHFP-II will target USAID Foreign Services Nationals, providing them valuable service, including, rotations, mentoring and exchanges.
