The Global Health Delivery Project at Harvard is a collaborative initiative between Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, and Harvard Business School. Founded in 2007 by Harvard professors Dr. Paul Farmer and Michael Porter, along with former World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim and Dr. Rebecca Weintraub, GHD bridges the gap between evidence and real-world practice by facilitating free access to clinical decision support tools for the current and future health workforce, researching and writing case studies about what works in health care delivery, and running courses for global health professionals. We support our growing global network of health professionals to overcome critical barriers and deliver timely, high-quality, equitable, and value-based care. As we scale, we remain committed to building capacity and strengthening health systems so that every provider, regardless of geography or resources, can deliver the best possible care to patients and communities. The GHD portfolio includes work in the following areas: 

Digital Tools and Generative AI 

  • Clinical Decision Support Resources: GHD partners with generative AI and digital tool providers. This collaboration helps current and future health workers integrate the latest evidence into their decision-making, improving patient outcomes. To receive a donated UpToDate subscription, eligible clinicians can apply for or renew their subscription on the application portal.
  • Digital Scouting: As new digital tools emerge, GHD actively evaluates their potential, plans for their implementation, and communicates with the global network of clinicians to ensure effective deployment. 

Scholarly Publications 

  • GHD Case Study Collection: GHD has developed over 45  Harvard Business School style teaching cases  with accompanying instructor guides. These cases capture real-life scenarios and explore how leaders apply value-based principles in healthcare delivery. Some cases are used in the  Harvard Ministerial Leadership program. All cases, along with teaching notes, concept notes, a glossary, and a detailed curriculum guide, are available for free online through Harvard Business Publishing and can also be downloaded on our website.
  • GHD Research: GHD employs mixed-methods research - including case studies - to assess the impact of global health initiatives on national health systems. The project has developed strategic frameworks to help decision-makers design value-based healthcare delivery systems. Ongoing research efforts include analyzing clickstream and survey data from frontline healthcare workers using digital tools and generative AI to identify barriers and enablers of their adoption. 

Education 

  • Global Health Delivery Intensive Program: The Global Health Delivery Intensive (GHDI) summer program is a rigorous three-week course offering training in applied epidemiology, management science, and healthcare delivery. GHDI is a key component of the Harvard Medical School’s Master’s in Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery program, designed to train the next generation of health professionals in value-based healthcare delivery.
  • Faculty Network: The GHD Faculty Network comprises educators who teach GHD cases in business, medical, nursing, and public health schools worldwide.