The 2023 Center for Global Health Equity University Scholars engaged in immersive research experiences at global sites including South Africa, Ecuador, Rwanda, and Kenya. They additionally collaborated with local partners in underserved communities in the USA and they sustained virtual research engagement. We are delighted to present the work of the 2023 Center for Global Health Equity University Scholars via their recorded poster presentations. Their initiative, coupled with their faculty and global community partner mentorship, builds the next generation of global leaders.
Please join us in recognizing their collective efforts and in thanking the generous donors who make this work possible.
Please click on the title to view the poster presentation.
Benjamin D. Goffin, Department of Civil and Environmental Engr., University of Virginia
Diya D. Gupta, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Virginia
Fernando Neira-Román, Centro de Información de Recursos Naturales, Providencia, Chile
Venkataraman Lakshmi, Department of Civil and Environemntal Engr., University of Virginia
Project: Delays in Medical Care, Treatment, &
Mortality in the Kigali, Rwanda PICU
Owen Selden, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Virginia
Dazhanae Houston, College of Arts & Sciences, 2024, Major: Global Public Health, African American & African Studies, University of Virginia
Derek Meyers, School of Medicine, University of Virginia
Principal Investigator: Tracy Kelly, DNP, School of Nursing, Assistant Professor of Nursing, University of Virginia
Dazhanae Houston is a 2023 Sister Bridget Haase CGHE Scholar.
Pepea in Schools: Understanding the Special Education Landscape for Student with Autism in Kenya
Halyee Ressa, College of Arts and Sciences | Neuroscience & English '25; Virginia Girling, CLAS, undeclared '26
Mentored by Professor Mandy Rispoli, Associate Professor, School of Education and Human Development
Dr. Saina Chelagat, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret
Haylee Ressa is a 2023 Sister Bridget Haase CGHE Scholar.
Karin Brett, Department of Civil and Environmental Engr., University of Virginia
Maya Reese, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Virginia 
Reese Hertel, Department of Civil and Environmental Engr., University of Virginia
Nkosinobubelo Ndebele, Department of Civil and Environmental Engr., University of Virginia
Dr. James Smith, Department of Civil and Environmental Engr., Professor, Univeristy of Virginia
Karin Brett and Reese Hertel are the 2023 Kristiane Kane Graham CGHE Scholars.
Maya Reese is the 2023 Pamela B. and Peter C. Kelly CGHE Scholar.
HPV Self-Testing in Rural Ecuador
Josh Rosenberg, College of Arts & Sciences, Women Studies and Gender, 2025
Caroline Sublett, School of Medicine, 2026
Dr. Julia den Hartog, School of Medicine, University of Virginia
Dr. Ivan Palacios, Universidade San Francisco de Quito - USFQ
Josh Rosenberg is a 2023 Glenn and Susan Brace CGHE Scholar.
Caroline Sublett is supported by the 2023 Donna and George Lyle Family Global Health Scholarship.
Liza Khutsishvili1,2, Carolin Fabian1,3, Jacqueline Hodges⁴, Kennedy Ngowi⁶, Krisanta Wilhelm⁵, Margaretha Sariko⁵, Marion Sumari-De Boer⁵, Scott Heysell⁴
McIntire School of Commerce1, UVA Public Health Science², UVA Department of Psychology³, UVA Health Division of Infectious Diseases⁴, Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute
Kimberley C. Duru 1, Shaina Twardus 1, Jean-Pierre Habumufusha, MD 2, Edmond Ntaganda, MD 2, Tracy Kelly, DNP 3, Sandra Kabagambe, MD 4 1University of Virginia School of Medicine, 2 Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Kigali, 3 University of Virginia School of Nursing, 4 University of Virginia Children's Hospital
Risk and protective factors of repeat adolescent pregnancy in rural southwestern Uganda
Sophie Lyon, Elizabeth Kemigisha, Viola Nyakato, Daniel Atwiine, Dorcus Achen, Olena Ivanova, Shakilah Nomatovu, Monica Natukunda
Caleigh Smith1, Magnifique Irakoze1,2, John Lugata3, Denys Ndangurura4, Leigh Cantrell
1- University of Virginia School of Medicine, 2- University of Rwanda, 3- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, 4- University of Global Health Equity
Cuidando Tu Bienestar: A mobile app for COVID-19 in the Hispanic/Latinx community
Carly Stender1, Cristina Amador2, Tina Nunez3, Cirle Warren MD4, Kara P. Wiseman, MPH, PhD5.
1-CGHE Scholar, University of Virginia, 4th year Biology Major, 2-CGHE Scholar, University of Virginia, 4th year Human Biology Distinguished Major, 3-Research coordinator, 4-School of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and International Health, 5-Department of Public Health Sciences
The Right to be Seen: Health Data Visibility and Privacy in Transgender Communities
Sophie Li, Aniyah McWilliams, Bailey Sword, CLAS
Mentor: Professor Jess Reia, UVA School of Data Science