Seed Global Health

Focus Areas for Impact

• Institutions are better able to provide quality teaching/training in medicine, nursing and midwifery, and priority specialties
• Faculty strengthen their use of evidence-based teaching, learning, evaluation practices for competent student learning
• Health providers and faculty demonstrate evidence-based clinical approaches and skills through professional education opportunities
• Students/trainees demonstrate their ability to translate theory into practice in a supportive environment

Targeting Policy

• Engage in global/multilateral advocacy that elevates the value of skilled professionals in policy for workforce development
• Collaborate with local partners to inform policy and decision making that strengthens the local health workforce

Dr. Maureen Ries

Dr. Maureen Ries, an obstetrician and gynecologist working in northern Tanzania, held a conference for the labor nurses at her hospital. She taught 45 new nurses skills and protocols to make them more comfortable with the tasks for which they were responsible. Shortly after the conference, Maureen was presenting to her fellow physicians and was asked if the nurses from the surrounding rural communities had attended her conference. Maureen learned that the 45 nurses had spread the updates she had taught to the outside communities and that they were now updating the doctors there as well. Maureen provided essential education for the hospital staff, but its impact was far larger.

Dr. Martin Neft

In his first week as a physician trainer in Tanzania, Dr. Martin Neft saw a very sick patient who was unresponsive. He was told the patient was six months pregnant, HIV positive, had a stroke, and was beyond hope. Martin questioned if the patient had toxoplasmosis, an infection common in HIV positive patients, which can mimic a stroke. After treatment, the patient woke up and eventually delivered a healthy baby. But the real success came months later when Martin watched as one of his medical students successfully diagnosed toxoplasmosis in a similar patient.

Kelly Lippi

Kelly Lippi, a nurse volunteer, taught in a bachelor’s of nursing program in Uganda. Though she had 160 students, only two had chosen to be nurses while the others had wanted to be doctors, veterinarians or pharmacists. Kelly taught her students how nurses could diagnose illnesses, care for patients, and save lives. In the year-end evaluations, one student wrote to Kelly, “You have made me feel that I have chosen the best profession in the world.” The student further elaborated that she was excited to share this passion with her future students. Kelly achieved her goal.