Donna Farley Global Health Scholarship

This scholarship will assist graduate students who demonstrate financial need with travel expenses associated with an international Applied Practice Experience. Funds are available to support one student at up to $1000 during the academic year (includes summer).

The Donna Farley Global Health Scholarship provides funding for graduate students who demonstrate a commitment to global health issues and challenges. It is designed to help defray the travel costs associated with conducting an international MPH Applied Practice Experience, MS thesis research or doctoral research for those who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship will be awarded through a competitive process that is open to all students formally enrolled in the MPH, MS, or PhD degree program in the School of Public Health.

The Global Health Scholarship Application period for the 2024-2025 will be opening soon. Please check back regularly to see when the applications have opened.

The deadline for applications will be Monday, March 31, 2025.

Scholarship Contact Heading link

Please note students who receive alternative funding from the Global Health Program are not eligible to apply.

The applicant must:

  • Be a MPH, MS or PhD student formally enrolled in the School of Public Health.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale).
  • Use the funds to meet a MPH Applied Practice Experience or complete an essential and well-defined phase of MS thesis or doctoral dissertation or research project that demonstrates a commitment to issues and challenges of global public health.
  • Not receive alternate funding from the Global Health Program.

The selected candidate must:

  • Complete the proposed Applied Practice Experience or research activity within 12 months of receiving the award.
  • Be enrolled for 0-5 MPH Applied Practice Experience or MS thesis or PhD research hours.
  • Purchase emergency evacuation insurance if traveling.
  • Provide a post-experience report within two weeks of return.
  • Prepare and present a poster on the Applied Practice Experience at the annual SPH Global Health Poster Competition at Research and Awards Week.

Applicants must complete the SPH Global Health Scholarship Application form.

The applicant’s personal statement should discuss:

  • The proposed overseas Applied Practice Experience or project in detail and a statement, including expected learning objectives, for the experience.
  • How the experience demonstrates a commitment to global health issues and challenges.
  • The statement must include the name and contact information of the International Host Organization.

Previous Scholarship Recipients Heading link

Name: Tatiana Betancur Giraldo
Project Location: Vellore, India
Project: Tatiana is an MD/MPH student in the Global Medicine Program at the UIC College of Medicine and enrolled in the Global Health Curriculum at the School of Public Health. Tatiana will be working  with the Christian Medical College bringing preventive care to impoverished regions of Vellore.

*Tatiana also received the Paul Brandt-Rauf Scholarship in Global Health.

Name: Ashwini Deshpande
Project Location: Bangalore, India
Project: Ashwini is an MD/MPH student in the Global Medicine Program at the UIC College of Medicine. Ashwini will be working on a project with the Ramaiah International Centre for Public Health examining the effects of chronic disease support groups in improving linkage to preventative and urgent care in rural Bangalore, India.

Name: Michelle Hathaway
Project Location: Kisumu County, Kenya
Project: Michelle is a DrPH student in Environmental and Health Sciences Division who will conduct her dissertation research in Kisumu County, Kenya. Her doctoral dissertation research is to examine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease of undetermined causes (CKDu) in a sugarcane growing region of Western Kenya.

Name: Praveena Babu
Location: Tamil Nadu, India
Project:  Praveena is an MPH student in Health Policy and Administration who will conduct her field practicum in Anbu Hospital in Tamil Nadu, India, where she will learn the intricacies of health care administration and local health policy.

Name: Mehneez Ali
Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Project: Mehneez is a first year MPH student in Epidemiology enrolled in the Global Health Program, who will be working with the International Centre for Diarrheoeal Disease Research Bangladesh in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Mehneez will be exploring the pervasive role of disease in underserved populations and the environmental contexts in which they exist, as well as how interventions must be tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of the people. Mehneez will be identifying potential spill over from animals to humans while evaluating new clinical treatments for human disease.