Rwandan Women's Health Equity Fellowship

application cycle now open for july 2025 start date

If you have questions about the application cycle, please contact Alison Goldsmith at alison.goldsmith@hsc.utah.edu.

Fellowship Overview

The University of Utah Women’s Health Equity Rwanda Fellowship is designed as a one-year post-graduate research fellowship. Interested Rwandan applicants will have completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Fellows will have the opportunity to earn a Master of Science and Clinical Investigation degree, with an emphasis in Global Health Innovation and Technology (MSCI-GHIT) at the University of Utah. As part of the MSCI-GHIT, fellows will receive training in clinical research and innovation to solve global health problems.

Rwandan WHE Fellowship, kate and adolphe smiling side by side
Rwandan WHE fellowship, theo and patrick smiling together in a selfie

program description

The Rwandan Women’s Health Equity fellowship is in conjunction with the Master of Science and Clinical Investigation degree program. As part of the MSCI-GHIT program, the Fellow will be required to join in person intensive sessions at the University of Utah. Intensive courses occur four times throughout the program in September, January, April, and July for a period of 2-4 weeks. When not in person, the fellow will be expected attend online courses.

During their time in Salt Lake City, the fellow has the opportunity to complete a variety of clinical observerships within the OB-GYN department. These specialties include, but are not limited to:

  • Labor & delivery
  • Urogynecology
  • Gynecologic oncology
  • Ultrasound
  • Maternal-fetal medicine diagnostic center (Ultrasound)
  • Newborn Intensive Care Unit
  • Early pregnancy evaluation clinic

Mentorship

Fellows will be connected with a Department of OB-GYN faculty research mentor, in their area of interest. Additionally, they will have a Utah liaison to assist in acclimating to the MSCI program, the University of Utah and Salt Lake City. This liaison will be a contact for fellows prior to their arrival. They can assist with finding housing, winter clothing, local transportation, African grocery stores, etc. Based on their capstone course, fellows will select an advisory committee of three faculty members to provide research support.

At the completion of the fellowship, fellows will have the capacity to:

  1. Develop innovative solutions to global health problems including project design,
  2. Understand, disseminate, and ultimately develop best practices for high quality obstetrics and gynecology clinical care, and, 
  3. Participate in collaborative partnerships with colleagues and providers and become culturally and ethically competent advocates for women’s health in Rwanda and around the world.

eligibility

Must be a Rwandan citizen who is a practicing board certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist in Rwanda and is fluent in English. The fellow must be able to pass a written English proficiency exam, in order to obtain entrance to the program.

How to Apply

  1. Contact MSCI-GHIT Staff

    Send an email to anna.darelli-anderson@utah.edu and kellie.e.brown@hsc.utah.edu to let us know who you are and that you will be applying.

  2. Complete the online application

    Complete the University of University Graduate School Application. Under "Program of Interest" on the program information page, select Clinical Investigation MS as your intended graduate program. Under "Area of Interest," select Global Health Innovation and Technology (Track 3) as your intended degree.

As part of your application, you must submit/upload (as a .doc or .pdf):

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV),
  • (Unofficial) academic transcripts from all prior institutions
  • Personal statement (one page Arial 11-point font) - highlight your academic preparation and interests, career goals, and motivation to complete the program study
  • Research Statement (one page, Arial 11-point font) - provide a statement of your research accomplishments to date
  • Letters of Support* - provide the names and contact information for two professors/faculty mentors who are familiar with your research and/or academic success.

Additional steps will be required after completion of online graduate student application, to complete visa application process.

  1.  Arrange for Transcripts

    Have your official transcripts sent to The University of Utah International Admissions Office. Do this early as a delay in receiving transcripts will impede the university admissions process.

Address to Mail:
University of Utah
International Admissions
201 South 1460 East Room 250S
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9057

To Send Electronically:
Please do not send official international transcripts via email or fax as they will not be accepted as official.

If your international school uses the following electronic transcript services they will be considered official:

  • Credential Solutions/Parchment/Naviance
  • National Student Clearing House
  • eScript-Safe
  • Scoir
  • ScribOnline
  • My eQuals
  • MyCreds
  • Digitary (see “How does Digitary work?” section)
  • Vitnemalsportalen Diploma Registry
  • University of Mumbai Online Attestation

When requesting your transcripts using any of these services please use this email admisstranscripts@utah.edu.

For additional information click here.

scholarship

If selected, the fellow will be given a full tuition scholarship and living stipend. Further details will be available upon selection as the Rwandan WHE Fellow.