GO Health Fellowship (Global Opportunities Health Fellowship)

The GO (Global Opportunities) Health Fellowship provides financial assistance to a graduate student, professional student, or medical resident at the University of Washington so that they may gain valuable international fieldwork experience in global health. The funds have been generously provided by donors committed to the education of global health professionals from diverse disciplinary backgrounds.

The Fellowship of up to $4,000 (USD) can be used to support student travel costs, including room and board, travel health preparation, travel insurance and/or supplies for a particular global health project.  The GO Health Fellowship cannot be used to cover tuition costs, school supplies, conference attendance, or other non-project related expenses. Funds can be used for experiences taking place anytime from summer quarter 2012 up to, and including spring quarter 2013.

The fellowship has been awarded to students in social work, anthropology, public health, medicine, nursing with experiences in Bolivia, Peru, Malawi, Indonesia, Uganda, Kenya, Philippines, Ghana, Kuwait, Senegal, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Cote d'Ivoire.

Applicants were selected based on the following considerations:

1. the strength of the project or experience proposal,
2. the applicant’s record of academic excellence,
3. evidence of promise and commitment to a career in global health, and
4. demonstrated financial need. 

Fellowship recipients must meet all program deadlines and program requirements, including attendance at a pre-departure orientation.  If a student is awarded and accepts the Fellowship, they must immediately withdraw their applications to other UW funding programs.

Eligibility criteria:

1. Graduate students or professional trainees enrolled in a full-time University of Washington degree program
2. Medical residents enrolled in a University of Washington residency program
3. Good academic standing
4. Demonstrated financial need (details in application process instructions)
5. Not currently receiving another award or fellowship for the same time period for the program or fieldwork experience
6. Participation in a global health-related program or fieldwork experience in an international, resource limited setting relevant to the student’s/trainee’s career goals
7. Minimum duration of six weeks abroad
8. The project or experience must be at a UW-affiliated international entity (eg. NGO, university, Ministry of Health or other research institution, etc.)

Application Process:  

1. Completed GO Health Fellowship application (sections A-E)
   1. Demographic information:  Name, student ID #, address, phone, email, school, degree/residency program, year in program, relevant experience.
   2. Project/Experience proposal: (1-2 pages, double space, 12pt font)
      1. Outline of activity for project/experience, including identification of the site, partner, host faculty, and UW mentor faculty involved
      2. Description of project/experience’s relation to career goals and future plans
   3. Proposed budget: list expenses for travel, travel health, insurance, housing, food, and project costs
   4. Letter of support from UW faculty mentor for project/experience outlining relationship and applicant’s promise and commitment to a career in global health
   5. Signed statement of support from international host site supervisor or mentor for project or experience
2. Copy of unofficial UW transcript
3. Demonstration of financial need
   1. U.S. students and medical residents at the University of Washington need to complete the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid:  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
   2. International students and medical residents at the University of Washington should contact Daren Wade (dwade@uw.edu) in order to complete a form from the Office of Student Financial Aid.

A faculty committee reviews applications and selects students for interviews. A required orientation will take place on Saturday, May 5, 2012.

Download the Go Health Fellowship application.

2011 GO Health recipients:
Donee Alexander, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bolivia 
Damarys Espinoza, Anthropology, Peru
Nathan Furukawa, Public Health/Medicine, Peru
Demetra Heinrich, Medicine, Malawi
Rita Ismail, Nursing, Indonesia
Shalina Mirza, Medicine, Uganda
Aliza Monroe-Wise, Resident, Kenya
Ana Moreno, Medicine, Peru
Isis Smith, Medicine, Peru
Diana Zhou, Medicine, Philippines 

2010 GO Health recipients: 
Ibrahim  Ali, Social Work/Public Health, Global Health, Ghana
Jennifer Schechter, Social Work/Public Health, Health Services, Cote d'Ivoire
Charles Cange, PhD, Public Health, Health Services/Nursing, Kuwait
Jana Shih, Social Work/Public Health, Global Health, Senegal
Chloe Waters, Social Work/Public Health, Global Health, Peru
Debbie  Fromstein, Medicine, Resident, Peru
Michelle  Desmond, Social Work/Public Health, Global Health, Kenya
Jason Goldman, Medicine, Resident, Uganda
Margaret Onwuka, Medicine, Ghana
John Nguyen, Medicine, Philippines
Linnea Pudwill, Medicine, Peru
Rebecca Martinez, Nursing, Costa Rica
Justin Schram, Resident, Guatemala