Congratulations to the 2024 Graduate Certificate in Global Health Recipients
This year five Vanderbilt students completed the Certificate in Global Health. The Certificate is an interdisciplinary graduate-level program that promotes joint training opportunities in global health between and across schools at Vanderbilt. The goal of the Certificate is to equip students with fundamental principles of research/planning, an international context, and problem-solving skills that can be applied to current and emerging global health challenges.
These students came from a variety of backgrounds but joined together through their passion for global health. Students earning this certificate learn basic global health knowledge and skills that will help them make positive contributions in various communities. They have shown their dedication to tackling health challenges that transcend borders and disciplines.
VIGH celebrates all students on their accomplishment and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors!
Join us in congratulating the following recipients:
 | Taiye Winful, PhD, entered the anthropology PhD program at Vanderbilt in the Fall of 2018. Previously, she completed a bachelor's degree in molecular biology from Loyola University Chicago and a MA degree in anthropology from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Broadly, her interests are centered around understanding how life experiences translate into physiological systems and the biocultural impacts of stress on health. She also has an interest in translating her anthropological skills to global health issues to further address health disparities and sustainability initiatives. Taiye plans to stay involved at VIGH as a member of the Student Advisory Council. |
 | Andria N. Li, MD, attended the University of Virginia for undergrad, where she developed her passion for global health through a water filtration project in Guatemala. In her time at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine, she has served as co-president of the Global Health Organization and the Global Surgery Student Alliance as well as a World Health Week Coordinator. She worked with the Lwala Community Alliance and research contraception usage and behavior in Migori County, Kenya. She has been selected to receive the 2024 Sten H. Vermund Award for Excellence in Global Health. After graduation, she will begin her residency in Urology at the University of Michigan. |
 | Gloria Nashed Mina, MD, completed a global health certificate while pursuing her MD Degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. During her time at Vanderbilt, Gloria spent one month in Kijabe, Kenya where she participated in the anesthetic and perioperative care of patients having surgery. She also piloted a quality improvement project where she helped analyze the hospital's compliance with published Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols for Cesarean deliveries. She presented her work in a poster at the Vanderbilt Department of Anesthesiology's 18th Annual Research Symposium. The poster was also presented at the Kenyan Society of Anesthesiologists 30th Annual Scientific Conference in Ukunda, Kenya. In her other course work, Gloria also did rotations at Siloam Clinic as well as Vanderbilt's Children Primary Care Clinic Smyrna, both of which see a significant number of the refugee and immigrant patient population in Nashville. Post graduation, Gloria intends to pursue residency training in anesthesiology with a long-term career goal of mission trips and service in under-resourced settings. |
 | Zhizhen Liu, MEd, completed a master's degree student in International Education Policy and Management. She is driven by a passion for creating positive change at the intersection of education policy, social justice, and public health in low-resource settings. With a deep commitment to addressing inequities and promoting holistic well-being, Zhizhen's academic journey is guided by a desire to leverage education as a powerful tool for improving health outcomes and fostering sustainable development worldwide. In the future, Zhizhen will work with a multidisciplinary approach, drawing insights from education policy, public health, sociology, and international development. By synthesizing knowledge from diverse fields, she aims to develop comprehensive solutions that address the interconnected challenges facing vulnerable populations. |
 | Gianna Ferrara, MPH, graduated from the Masters of Public Health program from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Before joining the MPH program, Gianna received her BA in Biological Sciences with a minor in Economics from Connecticut College. Gianna's thesis research explores the association between household secondhand smoke exposure and subsequent wheezing and asthma outcomes in infants. While at Vanderbilt, Gianna worked with Lwala Community Alliance to research COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among a rural Kenyan population, as well as a variety of other projects. She worked with the Emerging Infections Program (EIP) at VUMC throughout her two years in graduate school on the respiratory surveillance team. On campus, Gianna was a member of VIGH SAC and served as an abstract reader for the Global Health Symposium. She participated in Project Pyramid through Vanderbilt Owen School of Business, serving as an international consultant for an NGO based in Antigua, Guatemala. Gianna plans to pursue a career in public health in the New York metro-area. |