The Center for Global Health Equity at the University of Michigan recently awarded $11,000 in funding to student organizations through its third annual Student Organization Global Health Equity Challenge pitch competition. The event brought together interdisciplinary teams to present global health projects developed in collaboration with partners around the world.
Teams were evaluated on the strength of their partnerships, the clarity of their project plans, and how well their work aligned with principles of equity and sustainability. Finalists came from a range of backgrounds, including engineering, public health, and the humanities, and addressed health challenges across multiple global settings.
This year’s top award of $5,000 was granted to M-HEAL Team Flow for their work on improving IV infusion monitoring in under-resourced healthcare settings. NAAMA NextGen received second place and $3,000 in funding for their project focused on understanding HPV vaccine knowledge and attitudes among refugee populations and healthcare workers in Lebanon. BLUElab Sa’ Nima’ Collaborative was awarded $2,000 for their work advancing clean air solutions in rural Guatemala, and M-HEAL Project Brevara received $1,000 to support the development of a low-cost emergency ventilator for urban hospitals in Guatemala.
Project Title: Addressing the Lack of IV Infusion Monitoring Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa
M-HEAL Team Flow is developing a low-cost, user-friendly device to improve IV infusion monitoring in under-resourced healthcare settings. In partnership with Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, the team is working on a system that can accurately track IV drip rates and reduce manual monitoring for providers. The current phase of the project focuses on prototype development, including hardware design and software integration, with future plans for clinical testing and regulatory approval.
Team Members and Departments:
Project Title: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Knowledge and Attitudes Among Refugees and Their Healthcare Workers in Lebanon
NAAMA NextGen is conducting a needs assessment to better understand HPV vaccine knowledge, attitudes, and hesitancy among refugee populations and healthcare workers in Beirut, Lebanon. Working with Amel Association International, the project focuses on identifying local needs and building a foundation for culturally-responsive HPV prevention strategies through collaboration with partners in Lebanon.
Team Members and Departments:
Project Title: Clean Air at Home: Advancing Health Equity in Rural Guatemala
BLUElab Sa’ Nima’ Collaborative partners with CasaSito in Guatemala to design engineering solutions that improve health and living conditions. Their current project focuses on developing ventilated, fuel-efficient cookstoves that reduce indoor air pollution while also lowering fuel costs for households. The team’s interdisciplinary approach integrates technical design with cultural and community perspectives to support sustainable implementation.
Team Members and Departments:
Project Title: Emergency Ventilator for Urban Guatemalan Hospitals
Project Brevara is developing a low-cost emergency ventilator to improve access to respiratory care in urban Guatemalan hospitals. In collaboration with San Juan de Dios Hospital, the team aims to reduce negative health outcomes associated with respiratory infections while also supporting long-term global health partnerships and experiential learning.
Team Members and Departments:
The Center for Global Health Equity is grateful to all of the people who volunteered their time and energy to support this year’s pitch competition. From staff and faculty to community partners, this event would not have been possible without their support.
Projects were evaluated by a panel of faculty, researchers, and global health professionals from across the University of Michigan, including representatives from the School for Environment and Sustainability, School of Public Health, College of Engineering, and the Center for Global Health Equity.
