Identification and Validation of Global Health Needs

4 Credits.

This experiential course trains students to identify unmet health needs in low- and middle-income countries through immersive field-based observation and stakeholder engagement. Working in small teams, students travel with faculty mentors and local field partners to a designated country, typically in Africa, Asia, or South America, to observe an aspect of healthcare delivery within local facilities and surrounding communities. Prior to travel, students prepare in a defined thematic area through guided readings, background research, and in-country context briefings to develop an understanding of relevant epidemiology, health system structure, cultural considerations, and current standards of care.In the field, students conduct structured observations and interviews with key stakeholders such as patients, clinicians, administrators, community health workers, public health officials, and laboratory or supply chain personnel to map workflows, constraints, and existing solutions. Using an iterative, co-development approach with in-country partners, teams synthesize findings into clearly articulated need statements and prioritize opportunities for innovation that are feasible, contextually appropriate, and potentially high impact for the local health system. Emphasis is placed on ethical engagement, cultural humility, and designing with local partners, including consideration of implementation pathways, sustainability, and resource constraints.Thematic focus areas vary annually based on program priorities, partner needs, and site feasibility. Previous themes have included maternal and child health, tuberculosis, malaria, global surgery, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and primary health care. Deliverables typically include a needs assessment portfolio that compiles evidence, stakeholder insights, and problem framing, along with prioritized need statements and an initial concept direction developed in collaboration with local partners. Limited to CBID students only.