Global Health Fellowships

Global Health Fellowships

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) established fellowships in global health to:

  • Extend CHOP’s clinical, educational, research and advocacy programs beyond the borders of the United States
  • Train future leaders in pediatric global health
  • More effectively partner with colleagues in global settings

Global health fellows work with colleagues in partner communities around the world to improve health and achieve equity in health for children. Fellows learn to practice in settings with fragmented access to pediatric care, suboptimal pediatric medical care in strained healthcare systems, a scarcity of pediatric-trained health workforce and gaps in pediatric research.

In spite of challenges, fellows work within strong partnerships and contribute to initiatives to address these challenges. Fellows will gain global health clinical, educational, research, advocacy and leadership skills, and will be equipped to practice global health in their future careers.

David N. Pincus Global Health Fellowship

The David N. Pincus Global Health Fellowship is a premier program in the Global Health Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). It extends CHOP’s clinical, educational, research and advocacy programs beyond the borders of the United States and into international partner communities. The David N. Pincus Global Health Fellowship cultivates and supports the professional training of future leaders in pediatric global health.

“When Mr. Pincus interviewed me in 1998, he made it clear that whoever worked for him had to be willing to join him in his quest to change the world, one child at a time. I am overjoyed knowing that through the endowment of the David N. Pincus Global Health Fellowship at CHOP, part of DP remains to continue that mission.” — Danielle Scott, Executive Director, Pincus Family Foundation

Established in 2008 by a generous gift from David N. Pincus, this endowed fellowship provides unparalleled opportunities for Global Health Fellows to enhance their clinical, educational, research, advocacy and leadership skills in pediatric global health. We seek outstanding candidates who not only want to provide clinical service and education in a LMIC but who are also problem solvers who will work with their mentors to design and implement projects and research studies that will benefit children in our partner communities. Accepted applicants join an educationally rich and exciting three-year, fully funded academic fellowship and will work primarily in one of our partner countries: Botswana or the Dominican Republic (DR).

Pincus fellows have clinical, educational, research, advocacy and leadership opportunities throughout the three-year fellowship and will be supported by CHOP Global Health faculty. The fellowship actively collaborates with several partners including the Botswana-UPenn Partnership (BUP), Centro de Salud Divina Providencia (CSDP) in Consuelo, Clínica de Familia La Romana, Columbia University’s Program for Education in Global and Population, and the University of Botswana (UB).

This three-year Global Health training model combines clinical service and teaching with at least 50% effort for scholarship, all in a global setting. The fellows’ clinical experiences are focused on diseases particularly common in resource-constrained regions of the world such as malnutrition, water-related illnesses, acute respiratory disease, diarrhea, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Tropical diseases such as dengue or various parasitic infections may also account for a significant burden of childhood diseases in partner countries. Each fellow benefits from funding, protected time and mentorship to acquire a master’s degree by distance learning (e.g., MPH or MSCE through the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine). Each fellow also has the opportunity to design, implement, present and publish a research project under the mentorship of faculty members both in the Department of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania and from at least one of our partner sites.

Clinical service

Fellows work collaboratively with in-country professional colleagues. Each fellow will have regular and ongoing pediatric clinical responsibilities. The range of clinical service includes ambulatory care in the Dominican Republic (outpatient, preventive and sick office visits, outreach and home visits) and inpatient pediatric care performed at the level of a general inpatient pediatric hospitalist in Botswana.

Fellows connect with and augment existing healthcare systems in their communities with the guidance of the fellowship faculty and in-country partners. They provide pediatric medical service in areas of modest resources while gaining exposure to a broad range of interesting pathologies. In doing so, they develop and improve their clinical diagnostic skills and learn to optimize therapy using available resources.

Education and teaching

Fellows actively coordinate and engage in educational activities in their community, in collaboration with other professionals. In both settings, this includes teaching opportunities with local pediatric residents, nurses and other learners. Fellows are supported by Global Health Faculty at CHOP and receive mentorship from a variety of in-country professionals. Fellows are also actively involved in supervising residents and students from CHOP, the University of Pennsylvania, and other institutions who complete electives at the Global Health sites.

The three-year CHOP David N. Pincus Global Health Fellowship program allows for ample study and research time as well as funding to pursue a Master-level degree by distance learning through the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine or a similar institution. The fellowship also provides support for additional activities (conferences, journal club, case discussions) according to the interest and motivation of the fellow.

Research

High-quality research is a valuable tool to advance global child health. Intensive coursework and training will occur throughout the fellowship through a distance-learning program with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine or similar institution. Early in their first year, fellows will enroll in a distance learning degree with courses starting in about October. Study design, implementation, analysis and write-up are important learning objectives of the Global Health Fellowship. Fellows learn how to design global health research projects and use the principles of clinical epidemiology and public health, adapting and applying them to Global Child Health.

Individualized mentoring allows fellows to explore their specific research interests. Fellows have accessto faculty mentors at CHOP, the University of Pennsylvania and at each partner site. Each fellow will work closely with his or her research mentor(s) to design, plan, execute and write up a research study. The realm of each research project is flexible based upon the interests of the fellow along with guidance of both a local and CHOP faculty mentor. Each fellow research project is responsive to the priorities of the relevant Global Health partner site.

We encourage you to explore these links to learn about the work of prior CHOP David N. Pincus Global Health Fellows: Lara Antkowiak, Merrian Brooks, Marc Callender, Clarisse Casilang, Maria Dunn, Matt Kelly, Savarra Mantzor, Henna Shaikh, Jonathan Strysko, Chloe Turner, Henry Welch, and Kate Westmoreland.

Fellowship locations

Fellows begin their fellowship at CHOP by spending about two weeks orienting to the program, meeting with CHOP and Penn faculty and preparing for their assignment in partner countries. They then relocate to their host country and live there. At least 32 of the 36 total fellowship months are spent caring for children, teaching, studying, and conducting research in the partner country, which allows for an exceptional global immersion educational experience. Fellows return to CHOP midway through their fellowship to meet in person with mentors and to attend CHOP’s annual Global Health conference. Fellows also return to CHOP at the end of their second year to welcome the new class of global health fellows and share their experiences to date.

Each fellow is encouraged and funded to visit the second fellowship site during their second or third year; this visit builds rapport between fellows and further enriches their appreciation for the importance of context in Global Health as they explore the health systems in both the DR and Botswana.

The Dominican Republic

Health indicators in the DR demonstrate continued high levels of infant and under-5 child mortality, vaccine-preventable illnesses, and malnutrition. During his/her three-year fellowship, the DR-based fellow shares outpatient clinical time between the Centro de Salud Divina Providencia in the town of Consuelo (province of San Pedro de Macorís) and Clínica de Familia (partnered with Columbia University’s Program for Education in Global and Population) in the nearby city of La Romana. Fellows will also participate in a short-term inpatient experience through one of CHOP’s partner hospitals. Clinical duties are accompanied by a scholarly project conducted in either Consuelo or La Romana, with close mentorship and support both in-country and remotely from CHOP.

Consuelo

In Consuelo, the fellow performs his/her primary clinical responsibilities in collaboration with CHOP’s partners at the Centro de Salud Divina Providencia. The fellow is an active pediatric provider in the community pediatric health program through Centro de Salud Divina Providencia known as Niños Primeros en Salud (NPS), caring for children under the age of 5 years who reside in sixteen of the lowest-income neighborhoods in Consuelo. The NPS clinic and community program focuses on preventive care, nutrition, breastfeeding, growth and development, vaccinations, anemia, as well as acute care issues, including respiratory infections, diarrhea, skin infections, malnutrition, parasitic infections, and dengue fever, among other conditions.

Dominican family medicine residents rotate through Consuelofor their community health rotation. This exchange provides rich opportunities for both education and collaboration between the Global Health Fellow and the Dominican learners. The fellow also actively engages in community health and wellness programs (including those related to community health workers, nutrition, and parasitic infections) and conducts home visits in the Consuelo neighborhoods (“barrios”) with the pediatric community nurses and health promoters to improve access to and provision of care to children who need it most.

La Romana

In La Romana, the fellow works at Clínica de Familia, which partners with the Dominican Ministry of Health and Columbia University’s Program for Education in Global and Population. Clínica de Familia is a model clinic caring for vulnerable populations in the eastern region of the DR. With a multi-disciplinary staff of over 100 people, the clinic provides comprehensive family-centered primary and HIV-specialized outpatient medical care, along with community outreach, psychosocial support services, and an annual summer camp for HIV-positive children.

The fellow is one of the pediatricians in the clinic, providing primary and HIV care for HIV-exposed and HIV-infected children, collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary team. The fellow plays an active role in monthly pediatric department team meetings, participating in weekly clinical education conferences (often leading sessions on relevant clinical topics or cases), mentoring rotating medical students/residents, and supporting other programs. Additionally, the fellow gains experience in pediatric HIV management, multidisciplinary teamwork, and delivery of comprehensive health services in resource-limited settings.

Botswana

Botswana’s health challenges include the third highest HIV prevalence globally, prematurity, childhood diarrhea, pneumonia, and malnutrition. In this setting, the Global Health Fellow works to provide clinical care and service to children at the University of Botswana’s main teaching hospital, currently Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana. Clinical duties are accompanied by a scholarly project with close mentorship and support provided both in-country and remotely from CHOP.

Princess Marina Hospital

In Botswana, the fellow delivers inpatient general pediatric clinical care as part of the CHOP program in collaboration with the Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana (UB), and the Botswana-UPenn Partnership. The Fellow serves as an adjunct faculty member for UB and at different times leads both a pediatric ward team and a neonatal team. Each team includes a variety of trainees (such as medical students and a resident) caring for children admitted to the hospital. The hospital serves as the referral hospital for the entire country and sees a high rate of prematurity, neonatal complications, pneumonia, diarrhea, HIV and AIDS-related disease, tuberculosis, and malnutrition.

The hospital is large and busy, and as a result the fellow will encounter both routine and unusual, sometimes challenging, medical cases. Morning report and teaching rounds are held each morning (Monday to Friday) to review new cases and to problem-solve with trainees and faculty on the management of ongoing cases. Monthly academic meetings include pediatric journal club and both pediatric and neonatal morbidity and mortality meetings. The fellow takes calls as a general pediatrician.

Global health faculty and mentorship

The David N. Pincus Global Health Fellowship has a diverse faculty with expertise ranging from infectious disease, adolescent medicine, emergency medicine, to education, primary care, and nutrition. Faculty members are either associated with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine or with our partner sites. They have an interest in global health and are available to support the fellow’s clinical, educational, or research activities depending upon his or her needs and interests. You can learn more about Global Health Faculty members here.

Each fellow, with the assistance from the fellowship director, chooses a primary faculty research mentor during the first three to four months of the fellowship and will meet regularly throughout the fellowship with his/her mentor. Faculty mentors maintain regular contact with the fellow (via both in-person and other means including telephone, , WhatsApp, email, etc.) and provide mentorship as needed throughout the research study. Additionally, each fellow also has a biweekly conference call with the fellowship director or associate director.

Research projects undertaken by recent Pincus fellows

Scholarly Activity

Fellows are expected to complete an approved Scholarly Activity to achieve certification in their Global Health Fellowship. Faculty mentors will support the Fellow as they evaluate and determine the focus for their Fellowship and Scholarly Activity.  Mentors will provide logistical support and academic guidance to the Fellow as the Scholarly Activity proceeds.  Mentors will evaluate the Fellows’ progress at regular intervals and provide feedback to assure a successful implementation of their Scholarly Activity. Examples of such activities include;

  • Community-based research of health knowledge (assessment of a particular disease, practitioner knowledge, development and implantation of educational program, and outcomes research to demonstrate effectiveness of educational strategy). 
  • Development of a surveillance tool to monitor a particular infectious disease, implementation of the tool in the target community, and outcomes research demonstrating efficacy. 

Scholarly Activities will be presented at the annual Global Health Conference at CHOP .  Fellows will also be expected to present their Scholarly Activity at a national meeting through a poster or abstract, and/or publish in a national or international journal. 

Additionally each fellow will have a Scholarly Oversight Committee (SOC) with members chosen by the fellow and the fellowship leadership to optimally help the fellow achieve her/his fellowship goals.

Benefits

  • Annual base salary: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s standard for academic fellows based on PGY status
  • Full benefits package standard for academic fellows at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; vacation, medical, dental, prescription, disability insurance, travel and evacuation insurance, 403b retirement plan
  • Annual roundtrip ticket to the global health site
  • 1 month of rent at site within a budget of $1000
  • Conference attendance registration and travel benefit with the approval of the fellowship director
  • Full tuition for distance learning for master’s degree at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (or funding for research, if fellow already has a pertinent masters-level degree)

Eligibility

The David N. Pincus Global Health Fellowship seeks motivated pediatricians to apply for a three-year fellowship. Qualified applicants will receive an invitation to a virtual interview with Global Health faculty and staff in Philadelphia. Finalists will also interview virtually with our in-country partners at each site as appropriate. Interviews will be scheduled for qualified applicants only after receipt and review of all application documents and initial approval of the recruitment committee.

Recruitment for the 2025-2028 program cycle is now open! See details below to apply.

Applicant requirements

  • Must have an MD, DO or equivalent degree.
  • Must have completed a pediatric or med-peds residency at an accredited residency program. Pediatric subspecialists are also encouraged to apply.
  • Must be United States Board Certified or Board Eligible.
  • Must hold a license to practice medicine in the state of Pennsylvania. Selected fellows will be appointed to the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in the Division of General Pediatrics. In order to obtain their faculty appointment, fellows will need to satisfy the requirements of the Division of General Pediatrics and those of the Medical Staff Affairs office at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

How to apply

Early career pediatricians interested in Global Health careers are encouraged to review the fellowship brochure (PDF) and complete their application here (REDCap Link). Applications will close on November 22, 2024 at 11:59pm (ET).

The following are the necessary documents to submit to apply: 

  1. Application:  Candidates must submit a completed electronic application form (including ECFMG certificate number and visa information, if a foreign medical graduate). Apply using the REDCap link 4-5 lines above and will only be accepted electronically.
  2. Letters of Recommendation:  Candidates must provide three letters of recommendation from professional colleagues familiar with the applicant’s recent professional work, medical school transcript, and curriculum vitae.  Letters should be sent electronically to globalhealthcenter@chop.edu 
  3. Personal Statement:  Candidates must submit a one-page summary highlighting their interests, purpose and career goals as they pertain to the fellowship.
  4. CV: Candidates must submit a detailed and current curriculum vitae
  5. Medical License: Candidates must submit a current US license to practice medicine. Before commencing fellowship, selected candidates must apply for and gain a license to practice in the state of Pennsylvania. 

Acute Care — Global Health Fellowship

We are now recruiting for the Acute Care Global Health Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This two-year non-ACGME accredited fellowship aimed at American Board of Pediatrics, board-eligible and board-certified pediatricians, intends to train leaders in global health. Dividing their time between the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and international sites, fellows will hone the clinical skills needed to provide acute health care in both high- and low-resource settings and pursue clinical, research, advocacy, and educational opportunities locally and internationally.

At the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the fellow will work in a busy, urban quaternary care emergency department and a satellite community emergency department. The fellow will care for lower acuity patients independently and may precept medical students and residents on those patients. The fellow will care for higher acuity patients as a front-line pediatrician, supervised by a pediatric emergency medicine attending. International sites will be determined by the fellow and the fellow’s mentorship committee.

At the conclusion of their fellowship, fellows are expected to have produced a mentored scholarly project that carefully considers the needs and interests of their international site. Additionally, as part of their global health curriculum, fellows will have the opportunity to attend and potentially present at conferences focused on global health and take relevant coursework, including a Diploma in Tropical Medicine. 

Applicants must be board-certified or board-eligible in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. Applications, including a personal statement, curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation, are due December 31, 2024.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.  For further information or questions, please contact Dr. Alexandra Vinograd at vinograda@chop.edu. 

Pediatric Emergency Medicine Global Health Fellowship

In this four-year program, in addition to completing all requirements for our ACGME-accredited Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) fellowship, the candidate will have academic global health training integrated throughout all four years. Fellows will acquire skills in clinical emergency tropical medicine (both at home and abroad), global health research training, academic work relating to global clinical care, and additional exposure to global health learning opportunities, including a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 

At the completion of the fellowship, candidates are eligible for both the American Board of Pediatrics PEM Certification Exam and the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene CTropMed® examination. If you are interested, please apply to the general PEM fellowship via ERAS in the usual manner and select "PEM-global health track." 

Learn more about the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship. For information or questions, please contact Julia Swanson at 215-590-1959 or via email.

Global Health Nursing Fellowship in Botswana

Global Health Nursing Fellowship in Botswana - Molly Mahon
CHOP NICU nurse, Molly Mahon in the neonatal unit at Princess Marina Hospital.

CHOP Nurse Fellows will partner with the CHOP Global Health Nurse Fellowship Director, nurse leaders, and frontline nursing and medical staff in Botswana to help improve neonatal outcomes at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH), Botswana’s main referral hospital and Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital (SKMTH). Nurse Fellows will complete three-month rotations in Botswana, working collaboratively to achieve agreed-upon goals and objectives to improve neonatal intensive and general neonatal unit care. Nurse Fellows will participate in bedside teaching and mentoring to foster high-functioning teamwork within the neonatal unit. Nurse Fellows will be based in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and general neonatal units.

This fellowship is designed to build neonatal nursing skills in Botswana; therefore, CHOP Nurse Fellows will teach, work, and learn alongside Batswana nurse colleagues in the neonatal units at PMH and SKMTH. Nurse Fellows will be able to co-design specific projects responsive to the local neonatal care priorities in close consultation with in-country and CHOP mentors. 

Benefits

  • Salary Compensation: Nurse Fellows maintain their CHOP salaries throughout their rotation.
  • Benefits: Vacation, medical, dental, prescription, disability insurance, travel and evacuation insurance, 403 (b) retirement plan
  • Travel: Roundtrip economy airfare to Botswana
  • Local Accommodation

Eligibility

  • Must be currently employed at CHOP and be in good standing with no serious disciplinary action in progress.
  • Must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree
  • Must have achieved Peak I or II (PEAK achievement before applying is preferred)
  • Must be employed at CHOP for a minimum of 2 years before applying
  • Must have a minimum of 2 years recent (i.e., within the past ten years of nursing practice) NICU experience
  • Must have experience working in global health, including volunteer activities (preferred)
  • Candidates will collaborate with clinical supervisors and managers to determine eligibility and elicit support

How to Apply

  1. Submit an online application. Applications for calendar year 2025 will open in the summer of 2024.
  2. Attach a personal statement (500 words max.) describing your interest in the fellowship, what you hope to learn from it, and the expertise you bring to it.
  3. Attach a copy of your most recent CV.

For more information, contact Sally Poliwoda, MPH, BSN, Clinical Program Director, Global Health Nurse Fellowship, at poliwoda@chop.edu.

Global Health Tracks during Fellowship

CHOP welcomes fellows interested in incorporating Global Health into their fellowship training. Through the Global Health Center, fellows will be linked to a Global Health faculty mentor. Fellows will work with their Global Health mentor and colleagues based in a global setting to identify a suitable project that responds to an expressed need in a low resource setting . If you are interested in learning more about the Global Health Track during fellowship at CHOP, notify your Fellowship Director early in your application process so they can include a CHOP Global Health faculty member in your interview process.

Learn how other subspecialty trainees from adolescent medicine, infectious diseases and neonatology have incorporated Global Health into their Fellowship experience.

Other requirements

To carry out its mission, it is of critical importance for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to keep our patients, families and workforce safe and healthy and to support the health of our global community. In keeping with this, CHOP has mandated all workforce members (including trainees) on site at any CHOP location for any portion of their time be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

This mandate also applies to workforce members or trainees performing work for CHOP at non-CHOP locations. Additionally, all workforce members based in or regularly scheduled to work at any New Jersey location are mandated to be both vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19, with booster timing consistent with applicable guidelines. The CHOP COVID-19 vaccine mandate is in alignment with applicable local, state and federal mandates. CHOP also requires all workforce members and trainees who work in patient care buildings or who provide patient care to receive an annual influenza vaccine. Employees may request exemption consideration for CHOP vaccine requirements for valid religious and medical reasons. Please note start dates may be delayed until candidates are fully immunized or valid exemption requests are reviewed. In addition, candidates other than those in positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, must attest to not using tobacco products.

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. CHOP is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor seeking priority referrals for protected veterans.

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

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