Public Health Institute Receives $209.5 Million from USAID to Develop Global Health Professionals

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Public Health Institute (PHI) is pleased and honored to announce that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded it a $209.5 million "cooperative agreement" to continue to create a large, sustainable and diverse pool of talented global health professionals in the Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP).

This award, nearly twice as large as a previous USAID agreement with PHI for GHFP-I, is recognition of the excellence PHI has brought to recruitment, placement and career development of fellows and interns both in Washington, D.C., and abroad in the Agency's population, health and nutrition programs. GHFP-II, which will start up October 1, will build on the previous program's proven ability in talent acquisition and management to support USAID as new presidential initiatives and unforeseen health challenges shift human capital needs in the short and long terms.

"USAID has given us a great opportunity to continue supporting the vision and the work of its Global Health Bureau," said Sharon Rudy, Ph.D., program director of GHFP. "With the advent of GHFP-II, we look forward to deepening that relationship by building on the systems we already have in place, and by expanding in ways that will benefit the Agency. Our goal is to continue bringing high-caliber, diverse talent to USAID in the most efficient way possible and to ensure that fellows, and the USAID staff who support them, receive the performance support needed to be successful and produce results."

PHI provides systems and processes for recruitment, onboarding, establishing compensation, operational support and monitoring to allow for efficient and flexible quality-oriented support to program participants, on-site managers and USAID from a fellow's first day to the last. GHFP currently has 120 junior through senior fellows who participate for two to four years, and a number of interns for shorter stints throughout the year who are often gaining exposure to international health work for the first time.

"USAID is giving PHI a vote of confidence in our ability to successfully work together to create the next generation of global health professionals," said Mary A. Pittman, DrPH, president and CEO of PHI. "PHI has built this program from the ground up with USAID and increased the number of participating fellows and interns beyond the original goals. We look forward to continuing to exceed expectations."

To expand non-traditional experiences and educational offerings, PHI will work with partner CDC Development Solutions (CDS) to implement short-term, private sector fellowships. Another partner, Management Systems International, will provide performance-oriented professional development. GHFP-II will also continue to expand on work with USAID Foreign Services Nationals, including rotations, mentoring and exchanges.

In its outreach efforts, PHI will tap a network it has developed of more than 65 universities and open the door equally to schools with new and mature global health programs as well as those offering broader technical talent useful to USAID.

About the Public Health Institute
PHI, an independent nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California, is dedicated to promoting health, well-being and quality of life for people throughout California, across the nation and around the world. PHI's primary methods for achieving these goals include: sharing evidence developed through quality research and evaluation; providing training and technical assistance; and promoting successful prevention strategies to policymakers, communities and individuals.

SOURCE Public Health Institute