On May 27, 2014, Kobel Dubique, Fernet Leandre, Melino Ndayizigiye, and Shruthi Rajashekara, will receive their diplomas at a ceremony for students in Harvard Medical School's Master of Medical Sciences programs.

Congratulations to the MMSc-GHD Class of 2014!

The graduates’ two-year journey began in July 2012 with their arrival in Boston, quickly followed by the Global Health Delivery Summer Intensive program. In the fall 2012, the cohort embarked on a year of classroom study. In January2013, all studentes traveled to their research sites. Shruthi conduced her research from January-June 213, as part of the accelerated version of the program for HMS MD students. Kobel, Fernet, and Melino returned to Boston for a second semester of classes and traveled to their research sites from June 2013-January 2014. The students conducted research in Haiti, Navajo Nation, and Burundi, then returned to Boston in January 2014 to complete final analysis and write their research for their theses.

Graduating Students, Theses, and Mentors

Kobel Dubique, MD

Humanitarian Aid After the 2010 Haiti Earthquake: The Case of Accompaniment

Dr. Dubique’s research analyzed the humanitarian activities undertaken by Zanmi Lasante in the wake of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti using qualitative methods. He will translate his findings into recommendations intended to promote better social justice, better humanitarian aid, and better collaboration between the local community, local government, and NGOs when faced with similar disasters in other parts of the world.

“I wish that each people in my community will have the same chance I have to be someone, to get a profession. Because I grew up with them, I have a chance, only. That’s why I want to fight to get good healthcare, sanitation, housing, education, and to eliminate barriers between woman and man, boys and girls, and poor and rich.” —Kobel Dubique, MD

Kobel's Mentors:

• Louise Ivers, MD, MPH
• César Abadia, DMD, DMSc
• Arlene Katz, PhD
• Christina Lively, EdM
• Joia Mukherjee, MD, MPH

Fernet Léandre, MD

Estimating Effects of Poverty on Survival of HIV Patients on ART and Food Supplementation in Rural Haiti: A Comparative Evaluation of Socio-economic Indicators

Dr. Léandre’s thesis aims to expand our understanding of the relationship between survival and economic status among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy. He hopes that his research will contribute to the development of strategies and tools for measuring the impact of HIV/AIDS survival on socio-economic status at the community level and to contribute to a social theory of sustainability of improved survival through health interventions.

“The next step is working with the community and developing the will, developing the capacity, and for staff to stay and innovate to deal with health issues.” —Fernet Léandre, MD

Fernet's Mentors:

• Louise Ivers, MD, MPH
• Matthew Bonds, PhD
• Joia Mukherjee, MD, MPH

Melino Ndayizigiye, MD

Assessment of Barriers of Contraceptive Use in Rural Burundi: A Mixed Methods Study

Dr. Ndayizigiye’s thesis explored adult beliefs about contraception and availability of family planning resources in rural Burundi. He plans to use the results to improve family planning services to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Burundi.

“What I like as a physician is to be able to see a patient who is very sick getting better and be able to produce and be able to take care of his or her family.” –Melino Ndayizigiye, MD

Melino's Mentors:

• Mary Kay Smith Fawzi, ScD
• Norma Ware, PhD
• Joia Mukherjee, MD, MPH

Shruthi Rajashekara

A Qualitative Assessment of Structural Barriers to Healthy Food Access in Navajo Nation

Ms. Rajashekara’s thesis will provide insight into the significant structural barriers to accessing healthy food. She will use her findings to design and implement sustainable, community-based interventions that address these issues and improve access.

“The benefit of the Master’s program is that it was designed to give us a foundation and so that we can really address almost any global health issue that we face in the future.” –Shruthi Rajashekara

Shruthi's Mentors:

• Sonya Shin, MD
• David Jones, MD, PhD
• Joia Mukherjee, MD, MPH

Special thank you…

To Stephen Kahn | Abundance Foundation!

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Stephen Kahn and the Abundance Foundation for providing the financial support to our students that has made this program possible. Stephen has served not only as our benefactor, but also as a steadfast champion in training global leaders who will define the discipline of Global Health Delivery in the coming decades.

Our mentors!

Thank you to all the mentors—mentioned above. The role of our faculty in this capacity is invaluable to the MMSc-GHD program and to the lives and future endeavors of our graduates. You have helped make this all possible!