INSIGHT Announces 2023-2024 Cohort of Fellows and Scholars

The INSIGHT program is delighted to introduce its distinguished 2023-2024 cohort of fellows and scholars! As part of the Global Health Fellows and Scholars Program, this group recently participated in the highly anticipated Fogarty LAUNCH orientation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland.

From July 10th to July 14th, 2023, the fellows and scholars gathered at the NIH campus, in person and virtual, to kickstart their transformative journey in global health research. The Launching Future Leaders in Global Health (LAUNCH) Research Training Program, which is building on the successful legacy of the Fogarty Global Health Training Program (2017-2022), aims to cultivate the next generation of global health leaders.

Dr. Manhattan Charurat, Integrated Networks of Scholars in Global Health Research Training Primary PI and Program Director, summarizes the purpose of this program. “It is important to strengthen the foundation for the next generation of global health research leaders, and INSIGHT brings together top-ranked universities and global health training sites together to support the scholars on a diverse range of important research topics."

The LAUNCH program offers a unique one-year mentored research training opportunity at esteemed biomedical and health research institutions and project sites in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This initiative supports predoctoral and pre-professional trainees from the United States and postdoctoral and post-professional trainees from the U.S. and LMICs.

The 2023-2024 fellows and scholars seized the chance to participate in the NIH orientation, where they engaged in networking activities with peers, scholars, and alums from diverse LAUNCH consortia. This collaborative environment provided invaluable opportunities for knowledge exchange and forging connections within the global health research community.

The orientation week was marked by inspirational talks from eminent global health leaders who shared their expertise and experiences with the participants. Among the notable speakers were Dr. Peter Kilmarx, the Acting Associate Director for International Research at the Fogarty International Center, NIH, Dr. Lawrence Tabak, Acting Director of the NIH, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the renowned American Physician-Scientist and Distinguished University Professor at Georgetown University and former director of the NIH.

"I really enjoyed networking. Meeting scholars and fellows from several countries and engaging with them regarding their backgrounds and research areas was wonderful. The elevator speech was loads of fun and a very useful technique to briefly discuss who you are and what your research is about," said Dr. Ivana Beesham, a 2023-2024 scholar. "The speakers were excellent and covered a variety of relevant topics, and a highlight for me was the inspiring talk by Dr. Anthony Fauci, which was delightfully inspiring and heartwarming. I loved his passion for helping people."

The INSIGHT program not only equips fellows and scholars to make a significant impact in the field of global health and contribute to advancements in medical science but also fosters a sense of community and mentorship. “Meeting fellows from all over the world with a wide breadth of educational backgrounds,” said Madhushree Zope, a 2023-2024 fellow, about her favorite part of orientation. “Although it helps to already know someone that is willing to connect to you, most of us working in global health understand that sometimes these relationships are built de novo, and most everyone is open and willing to help.”

As they embark on their research projects in various LMICs, the 2023-2024 cohort of fellows and scholars are poised to make groundbreaking discoveries and drive positive change in global health outcomes. The INSIGHT program is confident that this outstanding group will continue to uphold the program's legacy of excellence and contribute significantly to international health research.