Graduate Researchers Present Global Health Equity Work at the Annual U-M Global Public Health Student Poster Session

Two graduate student alumni of the University of Michigan’s Center for Global Health Equity development grant program presented their summer fieldwork during the annual Global Public Health Poster Session, hosted by the School of Public Health’s Office of Global Public Health. 

The event showcased research conducted by master's and doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and trainees from the school's Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training Program, with an emphasis on developing skills in global health research. 

Rachel Zumberg and Sanaya Irani, 2024 grantees of the center’s Student Research Development Grant, presented their findings on public health innovations in mosquito surveillance and maternal health in Ghana, respectively. 

Zumberg’s poster, “Development and Assessment of Aedes aegypti Surveillance Methods,” explored the effectiveness of novel mosquito collection techniques in combating vector-borne diseases such as dengue and Zika. Her results demonstrated a 668% improvement in collection efficiency compared to traditional methods. However, Zumberg’s pilot surveillance trial also revealed critical challenges, including inconsistencies in data capture, specimen labeling, and protocol execution across research teams. Addressing these challenges, she emphasized, is essential for improving reproducibility and reliability in field studies. Despite these obstacles, Zumberg’s work underscores the potential for innovation in mosquito surveillance methods to improve public health outcomes in affected regions. 

Irani’s poster, “Midwife Perspectives on the Implementation of a Phone Line to Support Home Blood Pressure Monitoring in Ghana,” explored the feasibility and acceptability of using a phone line to enhance antenatal care. A thematic analysis revealed that midwives saw benefits, including improved patient communication between visits and early reporting of elevated blood pressure. Challenges to scaling the phone line included provider concerns about workload and compensation, as well as patient-level barriers like language and health literacy. Despite these obstacles, midwives expressed positive perceptions of the program and recommended expanding it across Ghana.

“The research of Rachel and Sanaya highlight the importance of supporting young scholars in their pursuit of innovative global health solutions,” said Matthew Boulton, MD, MPH, associate director of the Center for Global Health Equity and senior associate dean for global public health at the School of Public Health. “Their work exemplifies the real-world impact U-M students can have through our development grants.” 

The Center for Global Health Equity’s Student Research Development Grants fund graduate students conducting global health equity research in low- and middle-income countries, as defined by the World Bank. The program aims to foster global collaboration and provide students with international research experience and professional training. 

“The center’s mission is to empower the next generation of global health leaders and researchers,” Boulton said. “This poster session is a celebration of their scholarship and the transformative potential of their work to improve health outcomes worldwide.” 

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For more information about the Center for Global Health Equity and its grants, visit:

https://globalhealthequity.umich.edu/education-training/student-programming