GLOBAL HEALTH DELIVERY
SUMMER INTENSIVE
(GHDI)
Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
July 1-25, 2014
Program Brochure
2014
will mark the sixth year of the Global
Health Delivery Summer Intensive (GHDI) at
Harvard University. Supported by the Harvard
School of Public Health (HSPH), Harvard Medical
School (HMS), and Brigham and Women’s
Hospital, GHDI attracts a diverse, international
cadre of mid-career global health professionals
who seek training in global health delivery
concepts and skills. During the rigorous summer
session, program participants take three courses at
HSPH: epidemiology and biostatistics (EPI505),
management practices in health care delivery
(GHP555), and a case-based course in global
health delivery (GHP532).
Throughout the program, students have
numerous opportunities to connect with global
health colleagues and peers via conversations with
guest speakers and participation in private webbased communities, on GHDonline.org. These
communities
enable
conversation
and
collaboration amongst students, faculty, and guest
speakers during the program, and long after its
conclusion. In addition, 6.25 HSPH credits are
earned. Should a student apply and be accepted
into an HSPH degree program upon completion of
GHDI, these credits may be applied toward their
degree.
“The GHD Summer Intensive provided
exposure to key global health care
examples, cases, and innovation[s] across
disciplines, with important perspectives
and tools. This is important to place my
work within a larger context.” – 2013 Alum
Goals and Purpose
To bridge the gap between knowledge and
practice in global health, The Global Health
Delivery (GHD) Project at Harvard University
aims to both create and diffuse knowledge,
maximizing the possibility for impact. GHDI is
one of GHD’s efforts to expand the educational
opportunities in global health delivery, and to
convene a new cadre of health professionals
trained in the major concepts and skills in
delivering value-based health care within their
own contexts.
Major Areas of Focus & Program Topics
 Epidemiologic Methods
 Applications of Biostatistics
 Principles of Health Care Delivery in
Resource-Poor Settings
 Decision-Making Skills in the Context of
Politics, Economics, and Health
 Specific Global Health Issues and Scenarios
 Care Delivery Value Chains
 Leadership and Conflict Management
Strategies
 Structuring Incentives
 Program Design, Monitoring, and Evaluation
Participant Profile
GHDI seeks individuals who have a demonstrated
commitment to global health, and have significant
experience in global health organizations or a
related field. Most students are mid-career,
typically hold a doctoral or master’s degree in a
health-related field, and/or have at least three
years of relevant experience. GHDI applicants
must be college or university graduates. HSPH
will not admit undergraduates to any summer
courses. International candidates are encouraged
to apply. A strong command of the English
language is highly recommended.
Courses
GHDI requires students take three courses at
HSPH, each with a different teaching approach.
Epidemiologic Methods for Global Health (2.5 credits)
covers introductory level epidemiology and a
biostatistics primer. The seminar-style course
introduces basic principles of statistics. Problem
sets are focused on global health issues.
Introduction to Global Health Care Delivery (2.5
credits) engages students in the analysis of case
studies that describe efforts to improve health care
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delivery in resource-poor settings. Classroom
discussion of these cases illuminates principles
and frameworks for the design of efficient and
effective global health interventions.
Management Practices in Health Care Delivery (1.25
credits) educates students in the fundamental
principles of organizational behavior, strategy,
operations management, leadership and financial
accounting relevant for leading global health
programs. This seminar is a series of lectures
delivered by leading experts in global health that
span a variety of disciplines. Students learn from
experts’ first-hand perspectives and experiences
in the field.
To supplement classroom learning, GHDI
students
utilize
private
communities
on GHDonline to continue discussion with fellow
students and faculty, access course materials,
share resources, and connect with GHD alumni
from all courses and programs.
Cost
Exact tuition rates for the summer of 2014 are not
yet available. New 2014-15 tuition will be updated
on the HSPH Tuition and Billing website in
March. 2013 rates were $970 USD per credit. In
the past, tuition rates have increased annually by
approximately five percent. This amount covers
tuition, some but not all course materials, a
graduation reception, and a signed Certificate of
Completion for fulfilling the course requirements.
The online application platform, SOPHAS
Express, requires payment of a $50 USD
application fee. This will be paid to SOPHAS
directly through your application. There is also a
$60 USD HSPH late application fee for those who
apply after February 1 and before March 1, 2014.
Students are responsible for their lodging, meals, and
other living expenses.
Estimated course fees and related expenses:
Tuition (6.25 Credits)
$ 6,062.50*, ***
HSPH Late Application Fee
$ 60.00**
HSPH Tuition Deposit
$ 150.00
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Course Materials/Books
SOPHAS Application Fee
$ 100.00***
$ 50.00
Estimated living expenses for 1 month:
Rent/Utilities
$ 1,510.00 (GHDI Room
Block at MassArt Dorms)***
Food
$ 300 to $ 400***
Personal
$ 300 to $ 400***
Local Transportation
$ 85.00***
TOTAL
$ 8,618.00 to $ 8,818.00
*Any financial aid is applied towards tuition.
**Waived for students who apply by February 1, 2014.
Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2014 but
the fee will then apply.
***Approximate cost.
Financial Assistance
A very limited amount of need-based financial
assistance is available for residents of resourcepoor countries. This support would be applied to
tuition and fees, but would not cover travel or
living expenses.
Applicants are encouraged to pursue other
additional scholarship opportunities and offerings
through their employer, funding organization,
their home embassy’s cultural affairs department,
ministry of education, and/or local foundations or
groups.
Please
contact
us
at
ghe@globalhealthdelivery.org
should
your
sponsor (or potential sponsor) request data on the
impacts the program has had on previous cohorts’
work. Students may also visit the HSPH Student
Financial Services (SFS) Funding Finder site for
more financial aid options. This site is a resource
listing for external funds; HSPH does not offer any
funding. Applicants must seek and secure any
financial assistance needed prior to their arrival in
the United States.
Logistics
Arrival in Boston
Participants are expected to arrive in Boston,
Massachusetts no later than June 30, 2013. It is
wise to arrive early in order to allow time to get
settled. More details about travel, housing, and
program orientations will be sent to accepted
applicants.
Course Directors and Faculty
Co-directed by Paul Farmer, MD, PhD, Joseph
Rhatigan, MD, and Rebecca Weintraub, MD, GHDI
courses are taught by Harvard faculty and global health
experts.
Mary Kay Smith Fawzi, ScD
Epidemiologist, Partners In Health (PIH)
Assistant Professor, Department of Global Health and
Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Leads Epidemiologic Methods for Global Health
Rebecca Weintraub, MD
Faculty Director, Global Health Delivery Project
Associate Physician, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Instructor, Harvard Medical School
Leads Value-Based Management in Global Health
Care Delivery
Joseph Rhatigan, MD
Associate Chief, Division of Global Health Equity,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Chair, Partnership for Global Health Delivery
Assistant Professor, Department of Global Health and
Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Division
of Global Health Equity, Brigham and Women’s
Hospital and Harvard School of Public Health
Leads Introduction to Global Health Care Delivery
Paul Farmer, MD, PhD
Kolokotrones University Professor, Harvard University
Chair, Department of Global Health and Social
Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Chief, Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and
Women’s Hospital
Co-founder, Partners In Health (PIH)
Instructs Introduction to Global Health Care Delivery
Joia Mukherjee, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer, Partners In Health (PIH)
Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Global
Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School
and Division of Global Health Equity, Brigham and
Women’s Hospital
Instructs Introduction to Global Health Care Delivery
Location Description
GHDI will be held at the Harvard School of Public
Health (HSPH). HSPH is located in the Longwood
Medical Area (LMA), Boston, Massachusetts.
Several
world-renowned
hospitals
and
universities surround the School. The area is also
home to museums, historical landmarks, and great
dining
spots.
Please
contact
ghe@globalhealthdelivery.org if you would like to
suggest an idea for a social event.
The weather in Boston during July typically
ranges between 75° and 85°F (23°-32°C), during
the daytime, and 65° and 75°F (19°-23°C) at night.
Lodging
While the program reserves a nearby dorm-format
room block at a nearby college, students will need
to arrange their own housing for the program.
Lodging in the reserved room block is $390 USD
per person weekly or $65 USD per person nightly.
Linens may be rented for $15 per set. Please refer
to the HSPH Housing Resources webpage for
some suggestions on finding housing.
Application Instructions
The 2014 GHDI application will be submitted via
SOPHAS Express, a common application for the
schools of public health. (“SOPHAS is a service of
the Association of Schools of Public Health, which
represents the CEPH accredited schools of public
health.” Reference: https://portal.sophas.org/)
Upon submitting the application, students agree
to participate in and complete two 2.5-credit
courses and one 1.25-credit course (a total of 6.25
credits).
SOPHAS Application
Applicants are strongly advised to read the
entirety of the SOPHAS Express “Help” section
before
entering
the
application.
These
aforementioned documents will be useful in
successfully completing the application.
As part of the SOPHAS Express common
application, individuals must designate “Harvard
School of Public Health,” as the specific school to
which they plan to apply and “Summer Session
(non-degree) – GHDI.”
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Self-reporting test scores and submitting official
transcript(s) are highly recommended if you will
be applying to a degree program this cycle or next.
Copies of transcripts should be appended to your
CV and the whole document uploaded into
SOPHAS.
Q What are the deadlines for GHDI?
A Please review the calendar for students starting
in July to ensure compliance with deadlines for
application, fee submission, tuition deposit and
tuition payments, visa application, immunization,
orientation, and more. This calendar is posted
both on the Summer@HSPH website, as well as
the
GHDI
website:
“Documents,
Dates,
Deadlines.”
Access the GHDI Application here
Frequently Asked Questions
Q Who is eligible to participate in this program
and are there any prerequisites?
A GHDI seeks individuals who have a
demonstrated commitment to global health, and
have significant experience in global health
organizations or a related field. Most students are
mid-career, typically hold a doctoral or master’s
degree in a health-related field, and/or have at
least three years of relevant experience. GHDI
applicants must be college or university
graduates.
HSPH
will
not
admit
undergraduates to any summer courses.
International candidates are encouraged to apply.
A strong command of the English language is
highly recommended.
Individuals who have previously applied to GHDI
and were not accepted are encouraged to re-apply,
as their work/training experience might have
evolved over the past year. Individuals who have
previously graduated from GHDI are not
recommended to re-apply, so as to allow new
applicants the opportunity to experience the
program.
Q When will the 2014 session of GHDI be held?
A The 2014 session will be during the first summer
session at HSPH: Tuesday, July 1 through Friday,
July 25, 2014.
Q What is GHDI like?
A The course work is very intensive and fastpaced. In the past, students have spent
approximately three hours per night completing
homework and preparing for class the next day.
Students should avoid scheduling other
commitments.
Q Where can I access the GHDI application?
A The 2014 GHDI application will be submitted
via SOPHAS Express, a common application for
the schools of public health. You can login and
start your application here.
Q What is the deadline to apply for GHDI?
A The deadline to complete and submit the
SOPHAS Express application for GHDI is
February 1, 2014. There is a $60 USD HSPH late
application fee for anyone who applies after
February 1 and before March 1, 2014. Once the
SOPHAS application fee has been paid and all
required components of the application are
submitted, the application will be sent to HSPH
for review.
Q What must I include in my application?
A There are five key components to the GHDI
application:
i. Statement of Purpose and Objectives Please describe why you are interested in applying
and how GHDI may help further your
professional goals. The statement should not
exceed 500 words.
ii. Resume or CV - Please upload an up-to-date
copy of your resume or curriculum vitae (CV),
4
with copies of your transcript(s) attached, to your
SOPHAS application.
iii. Transcripts - GHDI requires that applicants
submit transcript(s) from the post-secondary
institution at which they completed their most
recent degree. This transcript(s) does not need to
be an official copy from the institution, and as
such, it does it need to be verified or sent by mail
to SOPHAS. Copies of transcripts should be
appended to your CV and the whole document
uploaded into SOPHAS. If an academic institution
does not provide transcripts, the registrar of the
school may submit remarks, rank in class, position
in examinations, course curriculum, and so forth
in place of a transcript. Copies of diplomas will
not be accepted in place of the transcript. Please
note that submitting official transcript(s) is highly
recommended if you will be applying to a degree
program this cycle or next.
iv. References – “SOPHAS Express does NOT
have a minimum requirement on number of
evaluations for an applicant to be able to submit”
however, only a maximum of five evaluators may
be entered (Reference: SOPHAS Express Help –
Evaluations: http://bit.ly/1dMBfRt) Your reference(s)
still must follow the procedure for submission as
outlined in the SOPHAS application: Reference(s)
have to submit an online reference directly
through the SOPHAS portal. Electronic-format
references will receive notification immediately
after they are saved in this section of the
application. “To avoid SPAM filters, please let
your references know that they will receive an
email from SOPHASINFO@SOPHAS.ORG so
that they can allow this email address to be
received.” (Reference: https://portal.sophas.org/).
v. Application fee(s) - A nonrefundable
application fee of $50 USD, payable to SOPHAS, is
required to complete the application. In addition,
any individual submitting an application after
February 1 but before March 1, 2014 will be
required to pay the HSPH late application fee of
$60 USD.
Q Am I required to submit standardized test
scores (i.e. GRE, TOFEL, etc.) scores in order to
submit my application?
A GHDI applicants are not required to submit
standardized test scores to complete the SOPHAS
Express application. Self-reporting your test
scores, and submitting official transcript(s) is
highly recommended if you will be applying to a
degree program this cycle or next.
Q How do I avoid making mistakes on my
application?
A Please visit the SOPHAS website for
instructions on the SOPHAS Express application.
Q When will I be notified of the admissions
decision?
A Once the SOPHAS application fee has been
paid and all required components of the
application are submitted, the application will be
sent to HSPH for review. Upon review,
admissions decisions will be sent out by the end of
March.
Q Can I opt to take the credit-bearing courses
“pass-fail” or am I required to receive ordinal
grades?
A Students may choose to take courses “pass-fail”
but will be required to consult with the HSPH
Registrar’s Office to do so. If a student elects this
option, he/she will not receive a letter grade for
that course(s).
Q What housing is available for students in this
program?
A While the program reserves a nearby dormformat room block, students will need to arrange
their own housing during the program. Lodging
in the reserved room block is $390 USD per
person, weekly or $65 USD per person, nightly.
Please refer to Harvard’s Housing Resources
webpage for some suggestions on finding
housing.
Q What are the withdrawal and deferral policies
for GHDI?
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A Admitted students who withdraw from GHDI
program will be reimbursed according to a
prorated schedule. A written request to withdraw
must be received on or before the deadline(s) to
receive the full reimbursement. Applicants
requesting a deferral for their GHDI acceptance
must also submit a written request to
ghe@globalhealthdelivery.org.
All
deferral
requests will be reviewed but not all may be
granted.
Q Who can I reach for additional questions?
A Please send questions with detailed contact
information
by
email
to
ghe@globalhealthdelivery.org. If you wish to
speak with us over the phone, please call 617-5204437, between 9am and 10am EST or 4pm and
5pm EST, Monday through Friday. We will
respond as soon as possible.
Other important contact information includes:
HSPH Admissions and Registrar’s Office:
Isabelle Bourdonné
Special Programs Coordinator
SUMMERPROGRAMS@hsph.harvard.edu
617-432-1030
Summer @ HSPH
677 Huntington Avenue
Kresge G4
Boston, MA, 02115
Contact Information for the GHDI Staff
Keri Wachter, Program Manager
Global Health Delivery Project at Harvard University
Global Health Delivery Summer Intensive (GHDI)
E-mail: ghe@globalhealthdelivery.org
Phone: 617-520-4437
Website
Mailing Address:
The Global Health Delivery Project
Brigham & Women’s Division of Global Health Equity
75 Francis Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02115 USA
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Harvard International Office:
617-495-2789
1350 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138
HSPH Student Financial Services (manages
sponsored billing, student loans, and grant
information):
osfs@hsph.harvard.edu, 617-432-1867
Student Receivables Office
1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 953
Cambridge, MA 02138
The office hours are 9:00AM – 5:00PM on
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
HSPH Receivables Office (generates e-bill) :
student_billing@hsph.harvard.edu, 617-495-2739
Q Where can I read more about the GHD
Intensive (formerly known as the GHE
Program)?
A Global Health Effectiveness Program: Training the
Next Generation of Health Leaders, is a feature
highlighting the experiences of the 2009 students
and guest lecturers, and their take on the
classroom environment and teaching method.
Course Offers a World of Ideas for International
Physicians, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Bulletin, August 21, 2009.
Student Spotlight: Rowan Gillies, The Global Health
Delivery Project, Julie Rosenberg Talbot, MPH.
August 7, 2012.