VIGH Faculty Publication: Ethical issues in the use of SMS messaging in HIV care and treatment in low- and middle-income countries: case examples from Mozambique.
The introduction of mobile communication technologies in health care in low- and middle-income countries offers an opportunity for increased efficiencies in provision of care, improved utilization of scarce resources, reductions in workload, and increased reach of services to a larger target population. Short message service (SMS) technologies offer promise, with several large-scale SMS-based implementations already under way. Still largely lacking in the research literature are evaluations of specific ethical issues that arise when SMS programs are implemented and studied in resource-limited settings. In this paper, VIGH researchers examine the ethical issues raised by the deployment of SMS messaging to support patient retention in HIV care and treatment and in the research conducted to evaluate that deployment.
Link to the full text article here »

Abundance Foundation is hosting an exclusive Nashville screening of the groundbreaking film, Bending the Arc, along with a special conversation with Partners In Health Medical Director, Dr. Joia Mukherjee! 

The film charts the inspiring story of the visionary organization, Partners In Health, from its origin in Haiti to now providing community-based care for millions of people throughout the developing world, where its workers combat not only deadly infectious diseases, but also a bias on the part of the world health establishment against spending money to aid the world’s most dispossessed. 

For more information, download the press release. 

Global Health Opportunities

Evelyn Vaillencourt Memorial Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 31 

Vietnamese American Medical Association (VAMA) Scholarships
Application Deadline: June 30

Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Research Fellowship
Application Deadline: July 2

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygeine Travel Award in Basic Science Tropical Disease Research
Application Deadline: July 11

VUSM Students: IVHQ’s Medical Volunteer Abroad Scholarship