About Us
Global Health Equity Foundation is a philanthropic organization making tangible improvements toward global health equity. The Foundation combines research with advocacy and capacity building projects. GHEF seeks to become a primary source for knowledge on health equity, and a major contributor to human and community development worldwide. Equity is an essential, core discipline for global public health education, heatlthcare provision and governance.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Global Health Equity Foundation engages in three core strategies:
Research
Collection, measurement, analysis, and presentation of quantitative data. The goal is to provide qualitative, influential recommendations to health leaders and to grassroots actors, thereby improving health equity in their given population. These activities produce research methodologies and tools for developing contextual solutions specific to the customs and culture of a given population.
Advocacy
Raising awareness of health inequities and of the right to impartiality in treatment. This includes educating communities about current and potential solutions, and communicating on behalf of displaced populations. These activities alleviate problems related to lack of access to healthcare, to health education and to health prevention services. Advocacy includes production of provocative media that can be widely distributed and available in a variety of formats.
Capacity Building
Improving local conditions for a given population. The goal is to make lasting, positive change in the way that a given population gains access to healthcare, health education, and prevention services. These activities build on existing knowledge and experience to improve individual and group skills through training, coaching and community building.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Foundation’s strategies are interlinked through an exchange of results, methods and goals achieved. Activities are connected across strategies as we apply outcomes, perspectives and insights in ways that reveal the interdependence of research, advocacy and capacity building. Opportunities are created for every strategy and activity to contribute to the success of others, while maintaining the unique focus of each. We have developed an expansive approach that compels us to be open-minded, fair and aware.
Comments from GHEF partners, and from participants in GHEF-sponsored forums:
My connections through my employer, Montana Health Network (MHN), are valuable to Global Health Equity Foundation. Many of the healthcare leaders that attended the Consensus Building Forums are members of MHN. At the forums there are opportunities to collaborate, and to gain wider market exposure very quickly. The Foundation's goals and MHN goals sync well on a local level. We bring to the table different, but complementary, methods of achieving those goals. —Chris Hopkins, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Montana Health Network | Interview with Chris Hopkins
Who is doing suicide prevention? Who is collaborating on this issue? Based on patient interactions, how do we identify recurring problems? Recurring themes related to patient care delivery in eastern Montana are present without clear solutions and consensus among key stakeholders. For example, we have a high suicide rate, drug abuse, and limited access to health care in our county and region. Working in our facility as a hospitalist, Dr. Al-Hafez confirmed our findings, and he identified additional patient-care needs. Together, Holy Rosary Healthcare Foundation and Global Health Equity Foundation focused on finding solutions that will impact these trends long-term. —Jackie Muri, Director Business Development, Strategy & Foundation, Holy Rosary Healthcare | Interview with Jackie Muri
We are looking forward to leveraging health-information technology. The Semantic Web project gives us a whole different way to conceptualize and to search for knowledge. We are setting up a pilot program using the City Health Department in Miles City. Among other issues, it will cover questions related to sexuality, adolescence, aging, and access to care. One of our community members who is a nurse is working to develop a social networking overlay for the semantic web technology. —Dr. Paul Cook, MD, MHA, CPE, SCLA, Member of GHEF Board of Directors | Interview with Paul Cook
Diving into a project like the one in Eastern Montana focuses the community and the Foundation on goals. People focus on priorities, and a proof-of-concept comes out of that. The consensus forums in Montana have had an effect that’s larger than regional. —Stephanie Goode, Consultant to the Foundation | Interview with Stephanie Goode
More information
To read more about our strategies and activities, please download our Executive Summary, or view our Glossary of Concepts.