UAEM University Report Card Ranks Boston University #6 in Global Equity and Biomedical Research
Global Equity and Biomedical Research
This year at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference, Atul Gawande, world renowned surgeon, writer and public health researcher, made the following statement during his opening remarks:
“There are more than 60,000 known ways the bodies’ 13 organ systems can go wrong with over 4000 medical procedures and 6000 medicines found in the last 100 years to treat and prevent those failures. What is Global Health? It is taking this knowledge gained and distributing it to people all over the world.”
Universities are positioned as institutions devoted to the research and discovery of innovations for the benefit of the public that supports them. Many are nonprofit, public-interest institutions heavily funded by government grants and taxpayer-funded sources. They have a duty to ensure that the research they conduct and the treatments they help discover serve the public interest and the global good. As the new generation of global health leaders, today’s students and medical researchers have the ability to support and also pressure these institutions to fulfill their commitment to the ever-growing 8 billion of this world’s inhabitants.
Far too often many medicines are made only available to those who can afford them, regardless of need or the benefit they were created to provide. The tragic result is that millions of people, mostly in the developing world, die each year simply because they don’t have access to medicines that already exist.
On Tuesday, April 21st 2015, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines launched their second University Report Card not only to hold leading global health institutions accountable to their commitments , but also to present where gaps might lie in the areas of Global Access to new innovations, Innovation and research into neglected diseases and Empowerment of the next generation of global health professionals.
In 2013, Boston University received a disappointing C- on the report card, ranking 35th out of 54 schools surveyed, just above The University of Massachusetts in 36th, but well below our neighbors across the river ranking in 5th. With a Business School and School of Public Health that were both just ranked 10th in the world according to Business Insider and US News, a UAEM ranking of 35th in global health impact reflects either a need for university improvement or better measurement indicators.
Constructive criticisms were included in a response to the 2013 findings by Boston University faculty through a Lancet article that criticised the fact that:
“…the title of the Editorial as well as the use of the UAEM reporting card are misleading.”
and
“UAEM can focus on a single component of global health but this should be made clear when reported.”
In response to these criticisms, the second version of the University Report Card introduces aspects not present in the original. Metrics for scoring have been modified based on feedback from the first iteration and are included in full on the website (due to launch April 21st). Additionally, this year there are two questions that address university policies surrounding the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, a crisis that has highlighted in particular the failed pharmaceutical R&D model.
Another modification was the new name, “University Report Card: Global Health Equity and Biomedical Research,” which better reflects what it is really measuring: University commitments to ensuring that innovative biomedical research performed in university labs will be accessible to all, and the efforts of universities to educate the next generation of global health leaders.
This year’s version has already received an endorsement from Partners in Health co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer:
“The University Report Card helps illuminate the effects of academic biomedical research on the health of the world’s poor, and hold universities accountable for the impact, or lack of impact, that their policies have on global health. I am grateful to the students of UAEM for creating the scorecard, and strongly encourage students, faculty, and broader university communities to call on their institutions to enact policies that increase access to lifesaving medicines and medical technologies for those who need them most.”
This year also showed an unprecedented level of collaboration from students and administrators from dozens of universities around the country. The response rate by universities to the surveys increased threefold from that of the first report card. This project is a major step towards increased dialogue between students, administrators, and researchers. It will also measure whether universities have made any direct changes as a result of their previous grades in 2013. There are rumors that university administrations are vying to reach first place!
We at Universities Allied for Essential Medicines believe that our institutions have an opportunity and a responsibility to improve global health through their research activities. If those same aspirations for a better world were applied across the board to all universities, imagine the impact we would make then. The results of this year’s report can be found [Insert Link]. We should take pride in how BU has improved, but open discussions as to where gaps can still be filled. We have the opportunity to showcase the ways other universities can follow our example as an institution that prioritizes Global Health Equity and the impact of Biomedical Research. Let’s together make this potential impact a reality.
BU Department of Global Health is recruiting Project Administrators and a Clinical Trail Director
Please note that the Department of Global Health is currently recruiting project administrators to support multiple new and continuing global health research projects. Additionally, the Department is seeking a new Clinical Trial Director. If you have the relevant experience and are seeking full-time employment at BU, we encourage you to apply. Please see the job postings on the BU Human Resources website, and please be sure to include a cover letter with your application.
Princeton-Fung Global Forum, November 2 & 3
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We invite you to The Princeton-Fung Global Forum Modern Plagues: Lessons Learned from the Ebola Crisis November 2 & 3, 2015 University College Dublin Featuring Keynote Speakers: Early Bird Special: $75 After Sept. 1, 2015: $100 Student Rate $25 Help us spread the word! Please feel free to circulate. #FungForum
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Mercy Corps seeks Technical Advisor
Technical Advisor, Governance and Partnership
- Job Description
- PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by building secure, productive and just communities. The Technical Support Unit (TSU) provides specialized technical support to design and execute effective programs and secure the funding for future work. The TSU enhances the quality and impact of Mercy Corps’ programs from assessment and program development through implementation, results measurement and learning. More specifically, the TSU 1) provides technically sound and timely support for high quality new program development; 2) helps enhance quality programming and meaningful impact/results; and 3) promotes Mercy Corps' best practices internally and enhances reputation among peers, donors and partners. Through its integrated approach, the Governance and Partnership (GAP) team on the TSU works to assist country teams in building resilience through integrated, multi-sectoral projects aimed at supporting communities in their quest for good governance and solving complex challenges through partnerships linking civil society, the public sector and the private sector. The team strategy is to ensure local ownership and sustainability of relief and development programming by promoting and transferring skills, tools and capacity to all country, regional and technical teams and partners.
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Technical Advisor, GAP works to advance the team goals and strategy as they relate to building resilience through good governance principles, engaging diverse civil society groups and strengthening collaboration between civil society and public and private sector actors. S/he is responsible for contributing to program design and development; technical support to interventions; measurement, research and documentation; representation and partnership development; and training, mentoring and organizational learning related to governance, partnership and civil society development. S/he is a strong writer and producer of professional documents, experienced in developing international relief and development proposal, and comfortable working with groups and delivering public presentations. S/he is a user of technology and will support the GAP team in its drive to adopt new communication strategies to build our brand internally within Mercy Corps and externally within our industry.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Technical Capacity Development
- Provide in-country and remote training and support for Mercy Corps staff, civil society organization (CSO) partners and others to support the sustainable development of a local CSO/NGO sector in international contexts, and to build the local connections between community, government and private partners.
- Lead GAP training, in close coordination with the Policy Advocacy team, to facilitate country teams’ knowledge and implementation of Mercy Corps’ approach.
- Support the GAP practitioner’s cohort by facilitating discussion on Good Governance and Partnership and how they are actionable through the GAP work on the ground.
- Develop a deep understanding of shared incentives and values that will entice partners to connect and work across sectors, both internally and within field projects.
- Support new and on-going civil society and governance programs with best practice advice and assistance on assessment, implementation, research and evaluation needs.
- Support Mercy Corps’ CSO capacity building efforts through networking with partners and industry experts and sharing global best practices/ innovations.
- Collaborate closely with Conflict Management TSU to better define the approaches that overlap between the two sectors.
- Support in the team efforts to identify and adapt tools and resources, particularly increasing available tools that support humanitarian and emergency programs to effectively engage local government where possible and develop civil society partnerships.
- Provide guidance to field teams on Mercy Corps Community Mobilization approach.
Program Development
- Develop and expand Mercy Corps’ GAP portfolio through innovative program development and quality technical leadership in field.
- Design new programs in partnership with Mercy Corps and partner colleagues, actively using best practice principles for engaging partners in the process.
- Provide lead writing and/or expert technical review for new grant applications in-country or remotely depending on needs and timing of initiative.
- Develop and provide additional resource recommendations (consultants) for quality proposal support.
- Assist in development of standard indicator recommendations for GAP.
Representation and Thought Leadership Development
- Support and actively pursue the GAP team’s efforts to build strong working relationships with internal stakeholders and partners on broader Program, Resource Development, MERL and Policy Advocacy teams to promote the impact of working with GAP as a cross-cutting base for programming, research and thought leadership.
- Develop, document and communicate program approaches in coordination with the GAP-Director to ensure that our governance and partnership programming utilizes and promotes quality standards in line with industry best practice and encourages adaptation and innovation.
- Represent Mercy Corps’ governance and partnership programming externally with donors and peer agencies. Participate and present at conferences, working groups or other forums as prioritized by team.
- Actively participate and facilitate a community of practice sharing lessons and support between different country programs and partners, utilizing new communication/technology strategies.
- Assist in documentation, promotion and dissemination of GAP’s development interventions, research activities and lessons learned, including case studies and articles.
Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Director, Governance and Partnership TSU
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Senior Director, Strategic Programs and Resilience; Conflict Management TSU and Other TSU teams; Field and Regional Leadership; Regional Program Teams; Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning team; Policy and Advocacy team
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
- Masters degree in a technical field related to international development
- 4-6 years of experience working in development in the civil society arena with non-governmental/ civil society organizations with three years in the field required;
- Proven success writing grants for and supporting the implementation of programs related to civil society/ governance funded by European, USAID and other bi- and multi-lateral donors;
- Experience organizing and conducting trainings and workshops on civil society and governance topics in international arenas;
- Effective networking and communication skills that include a strong ability to deliver presentations, write for diverse development and policy audiences, and conduct public outreach using media and technology;
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse groups and individuals, including political, civic and business leaders, as well as members of the donor and diplomatic community;
- Experience and proven flexibility in advising program teams in adjusting activities based on changing political circumstances and in response to needs articulated by local partners and program stakeholders;
- Fluency in English required; a second language strongly preferred;
- 3 years of experience working in post-conflict environments and/or countries undergoing political transitions;
- Strong preference for work experience in Middle East region.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful candidate is a self-starter, with demonstrated leadership in civil society development, social inclusion, and cross-sector partnerships programming. S/he is conversant on topic of resilience and understands the role of good governance in building resilience. S/he prioritizes strong working relationships and embodies the principles of partnership in his/her daily work. S/he is comfortable multi-tasking, holds himself/herself accountable to our team strategy, and has a proven ability to organize and prioritize his/her work accordingly. S/he demonstrates creative problem-solving skills, communicates effectively with team members and partners of varied work styles and backgrounds, and can be counted on to meet tight deadlines under challenging circumstances. Strong writing and story-telling skills are critical to the success of this position. S/he demonstrates a strong understanding for cultural, political and religious environments and be able to work successfully in those environments. S/he maintains poise in stressful situations. S/he is able and comfortable traveling travel to and within countries undergoing transition or conflict.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
The position is based in DC or Portland and requires at least 40% travel both within the US and internationally, sometimes within insecure environments. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
- Job Location
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Position Type
- Full-Time/Regular
Are you fluent in Spanish? Would you like to participate in a research study in Nicaragua this summer?
BUSPH and the Brookline-Quezalguaque Sister City Committee will be conducting a study of chronic kidney disease for 8 weeks following the end of the spring semester. Students will be involved in all phases of the study, from design to data collection to analysis. This activity is practicum-eligible.
If interested, please email me at danbrook@bu.edu, ASAP.
Daniel Brooks, DSc
Associate Professor of Epidemiology
Boston University School of Public Health
Boston-based M&E Intern @ Dana Farber – apply by May 1
The Global Health Initiative (GHI) at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on countries with limited resources, and brings together faculty, fellows, nurses, social workers, psychologists, health educators, and managers to improve outcomes for children. They are working to establish centers of excellence in pediatric hematology and oncology in the developing world, and we are training the next generation of leaders.
They have internship opportunities for this summer and fall. See the description for more details: GHI Intern 2015_Program Evaluation in LMIC
Claire M. Wagner is Senior Consultant at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Center for Global Cancer Medicine and a US National Cancer Institute funded Fellow at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) in Geneva. She supports Dana-Farber’s partnership with the Ministry of Health of Rwanda, and serves as Secretariat for the 2014 UICC Review of the World Health Organization’s Essential Medicines for Cancer. From 2010-2013 she worked in Rwanda for the Honorable Minister of Health Dr. Agnes Binagwaho and Harvard University Professor Dr. Paul Farmer. Her background is in Medical Anthropology and she will begin medical school in August.
Health Economics Intern needed at Global Health Fellows Program II
Global Health Fellows Program II
Health Economics Intern
Commodities Security and Logistics Division, Office of Population and Reproductive Health, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Anticipated timeframe: June 2015 - November 2015: Compensated 24 week internship
Location: Washington, DC/Arlington, VA
INT-P4-050
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
GHFP-II's goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency's immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual working planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.
Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency's ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.
BACKGROUND:
The Health Economics Intern will be assigned to the Commodities Security Logistics Division (CSL) under the Office of Population and Reproductive Health (PRH) in the Bureau for Global Health (GH). The PRH Office provides coordination and performance tracking for the family planning component of the United States Government's (USG) Global Health Initiative. The Office provides strategic direction, technical leadership and support to field programs in voluntary family planning and reproductive health, in collaboration with global and regional partners. The CSL Division supports USAID's efforts to strengthen commodity security - i.e., improving the availability of and access to essential health commodities for people in low and middle income countries. Commodity security is an essential component of health services. In many low and middle income countries, people are often unable to reliably access health commodities due to inadequate supply, policy barriers, ineffective health systems, and limited understanding of the marketplace. Expertise across a range of disciplines is required to advance commodity security, and to design and implement policies and programs that support it. Financing, policy reform, market segmentation and development, procurement, logistics, workforce capacity, performance improvement, and institutional strengthening are just some areas of concern.
INTRODUCTION:
An essential part of CSL's work is overseeing the central procurement of high quality, low-cost family planning and other public health products and the provision of these products to low and middle income countries. CSL also aims to support the development of nascent contraceptive markets and tailor donations based on the development of individual markets. The Health Economics Intern will assist CSL to better understand the factors that contribute to a well-functioning, regulated market and supply chain integrity as well as best practices to detect, prevent as well as correct failures in supply chains and its impact on health and markets. The Intern will also assist in the modeling of stages of market development. S/he will work closely with the Senior Market Development Advisor and Technical Advisor as his/her onsite managers.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Gaining an understanding of the externalities of free and subsidized products on markets, namely in the area of health and in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Gaining an understanding of the role of regulatory authority for pharmaceuticals and agricultural and veterinary products in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Deepening skills in collaboration and coordination within a complex organizational and implementation structure.
• Gaining an understanding of how USAID supports supply chain systems for public health and how the agency is evolving in efficient approaches and integration across disease categories such as family planning, HIV, malaria, and maternal and child health.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Determining the drivers of supply chain integrity including consequences when integrity is weak.
• Mapping the information that CSL, Office of HIV and AIDS (OHA), and President Malaria's Initiative currently have on supply chain integrity within GH.
• Providing support to the CSL pharmacist, to refine Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to detect supply chain weakness.
• Assisting the CSL technical advisor and pharmacist in developing an intake form to document failures or weaknesses in commodity management practices within USG funded health programs.
• Collaborating with the Senior Market Development Advisor to review the factors that determine a country's market development stage.
• Providing support to the Senior Market Development Advisor to develop a functioning model of country market development.
• Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on organizational and programming need and/or the Intern's own interests.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Currently enrolled master's or other post-bachelor's degree candidate in a program related to economics, supply chain management, business, pharmacy, public health, or international development; or, completion of such within the past 12 months.
• Basic understanding of pharmaceutical markets in developing countries.
• Ability to do economic and/or econometric modeling/regression analyses.
• Understanding of the changing economic landscape in Africa and interest in Sub-Saharan African development is preferred.
• Strong analytical, oral and written communication skills.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency required.
COMPENSATION:
$1,680 bi-weekly (exempt, salaried position).
TO APPLY:
Detailed information, including an online application and instructions, is available on our website at www.ghfp.net. All applications must be submitted by Thursday, April 30, 2015 at 5:00 pm eastern time.
We are proud to be an EEO/AA Employer.
