In 54 countries from the United States to Uganda, Duke Global Health Institute (DGHI) partners with organizations and institutions on more than 300 projects that have direct impact on global health policy or practice. A $20 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will help educate a new generation of leaders and experts to expand these partnerships and build research capacity to address critical global health challenges.
“I’m excited that our support can help to increase the visibility of the institute as well as raise the capacity of the global health sector,” said Melinda Gates ’86, M.B.A.’87, Hon.’13, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The grant created a $10 million endowment to sustain the growth of DGHI. The other $10 million supports a challenge that will match one dollar for every dollar given, leveraging a total of $30 million in gifts.
With more than 300 undergraduates pursuing majors or minors in global health, DGHI plans to increase hands-on learning opportunities. The institute will bolster financial aid for undergrads, graduate students, and international students.
DGHI will recruit and support faculty at Duke working across disciplines and schools on global health challenges such as HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment (medicine and public policy), mental health (psychiatry and psychology) and strengthening health systems (economics and management). And it will strengthen partnerships in priority locations such as Haiti, Kenya, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.