UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health

UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health Developing sustainable approaches to advance global health equity and social justice.

Applications now open for the 2027-2028 Integrated Network of Scholars in Global Health Research Training program! The S...
08/31/2026

Applications now open for the 2027-2028 Integrated Network of Scholars in Global Health Research Training program!

The Sparkman Center is excited to be a member of the Integrated Networks of Scholars in Global Health Research Training (INSIGHT) consortium, part of the NIH-Fogarty International Center's Launching Future Leaders in Global Health Research Training Program. The INSIGHT consortium brings together four top-ranked universities, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Maryland Baltimore, the University of Pittsburgh, and their respective international research training sites in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

INSIGHT aims to provide the next generation of aspiring global health researchers in the U.S. and in LMICs by giving scientists, early in their careers, a mentored research training experience in global health at established biomedical and behavioral research sites across 24 LMIC institutions in 20 countries. Trainee research projects are supported by experienced and dedicated mentors with expertise in clinical, public health, laboratory, and implementation research.

Eligibility
- US Citizens & Permanent Residents: Completed a doctoral/terminal degree within the last 8 years OR by June 2027
- US Citizens & Permanent Residents :Currently enrolled in a doctoral/terminal degree program AND have completed at least one year of studies
- LMIC Citizens & Permanent Residents: Completed a doctoral/terminal degree within the last 8 years OR by June 2027

Requirements
- Determine US and LMIC mentor
- Dedicate 40 research hours per week for 12 months at international site
- Available to begin fellowship in July 2027

Research Tracks
- Diseases: HIV, Communicable Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Mental Health
- Populations: Key, Male, Adolescents and Young Women, Maternal/Neonatal/Children
- Sciences: Health Systems, Implementation Science, Laboratory Science, Data Science

Register for the virtual information session on Thursday, September 10 at 3 pm CST to learn more! https://uab.zoom.us/meeting/register/hNnoCGzLQRKjmw5OvCBdCw #/registration

INSIGHT applications close on Friday, October 16 @ 11:00 pm EST. https://redcap.umaryland.edu/surveys/?s=YRR3MJFTMWE8AWW4

The INSIGHT consortium comprises four US academic institutions and their affiliated global institutions.

Meet our 2026-2027 Sparkman Fellows Cohort!We received an extensive and competitive pool of applications this year and w...
08/26/2026

Meet our 2026-2027 Sparkman Fellows Cohort!

We received an extensive and competitive pool of applications this year and want to extend a BIG congratulations to these phenomenal students! We can't wait to see what they accomplish this year in the field of global health!

Stay tuned for more details about our fellows, scholar mentors, and their future projects as we kickoff this fellowship year

As the fall semester kicks off, let take a look back at an incredible week at the Sparkman Center Summer Institute this ...
08/24/2026

As the fall semester kicks off, let take a look back at an incredible week at the Sparkman Center Summer Institute this past June! This year, the Institute brought together over 20 participants from over 10 countries in an intensive five-day workshop. The Institute focuses on implementation research (IR) in global health settings and provides training on how to apply IR concepts and methods to address health inequities in global health research and practice.

The workshop was led by four instructors including Dr. Olakunle Alonge, Professor and Director of the Sparkman Center for the UAB School of Public Health (SOPH); Dr. Janet Turan, former Sparkman Center director and SOPH professor emeritus; Dr. Stef Baral, Professor at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the doctoral program in implementation science; and Dr. Malabika Sarker, Associate Dean of Global Engagement, Professor of Behavior of Social Science Implementation at Brown University, and founding director of the Center of Excellence for Science Implementation and Scale-up at BRAC University in Bangladesh.

We took a moment during the week to celebrate Dr. Janet Turan, a longtime pillar and cherished mentor, colleague, and friend to many, who recently reach retired from from UAB. Guests enjoyed cupcakes while Dr. Turan was presented with a framed illustration of the Ryals School of Public Health building signed by colleagues and friends. We are grateful for everything she has done for the Sparkman Center, the School of Public Health, and for UAB, and wish her all the best in the next chapter!

The Summer Institute will continue in 2027 and more virtual info sessions are being coordinated for the fall and spring to engage with former and potential attendees. Stay tuned and check out our website for more details!

Congratulations to our team on a new publication! "Implementation Research for Advancing Health Equity: Design and Compe...
06/05/2026

Congratulations to our team on a new publication! "Implementation Research for Advancing Health Equity: Design and Competency-Based Assessment of a Short-Term Implementation Research Training Program Focused on Health Equity in Global Health," is now published in PLOS Global Public Health.

In this paper, authors Dr. Anna Helova, Dr. Kevin Owuor, Camryn Durham, Erin Tech, and Dr. Olakunle Alonge evaluate the 2024 Sparkman Center Summer Institute, which is a one-week intensive workshop at the UAB School of Public Health designed to train global health practitioners in implementation research, with a focus on health equity. The study draws on 28 participants from 12 countries, which found significant improvements in self assessed IR knowledge and confidence following the training. Participants reported high satisfaction and highlighted the value of hands-on application, mentorship, and peer learning. The authors also explore how IR can be used to address health inequities in global health settings, and how future training programs can build on these findings.

Read the full article at the link in our bio!

A big congratulations to the 2026 graduating class of the Sparkman Fellows Program! We are proud to have distinguished s...
05/04/2026

A big congratulations to the 2026 graduating class of the Sparkman Fellows Program! We are proud to have distinguished scholars representing the Sparkman Center, and are excited to see where your future takes you!🌟🌏

Thank you to everyone who joined our Sparkman Seminar Series! Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. George Ashu'...
04/27/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined our Sparkman Seminar Series! Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. George Ashu's seminar on "Humanitarian Health Research in Conflict-Affected Regions of Cameroon: mHealth, Refugee Health and HIV Treatment Amongst Internally Displaced People."

In his talk, Dr. Ashu presented on his three research projects in Cameroon, all of which highlighted approaches to improving healthcare access in conflict-affected regions. His research also showed the broader challenges conflict poses to health systems and that these challenges have specific needs requiring flexible approaches, rather than standard ones.
--
Dr. Ashu is a humanitarian physician and researcher from Cameroon. He has worked with the Cameroon Ministry of Public Health and Africa Humanitarian Action, where he has led medical teams to offer primary healthcare to refugees from the Central African Republic. He is also the founder of Eden Global Missions, a Cameroon-based, non-profit offering free life-saving primary care to thousands of Cameroonians, internally displaced people, and refugees.

His current research with the UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health is with Dr. Janet Turan, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, and Dr. Tih Pius Muffih analyzing HIV treatment amongst people who have been displaced by conflict in Cameroon.

Applications for the 2026-27 Sparkman Fellows Program is open for 2 MORE DAYS!Meet our Fellows Fridays feature for the w...
04/24/2026

Applications for the 2026-27 Sparkman Fellows Program is open for 2 MORE DAYS!

Meet our Fellows Fridays feature for the week -- Srushti Talluri!

Srushti is a student majoring in Medical Humanities and pursuing a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership through the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program. She is passionate about advancing reproductive rights, equitable healthcare access, and addressing the social determinants of health. After graduating, she aspires to join medical school and become a physician working at the intersection of medicine, health policy, and grassroots initiatives developing targeted solutions to global health challenges.

Refer to the second slide to learn more about the Mentorship Program!
To access the application, head to the following link: https://www.uab.edu/sparkmancenter/students/education-experiential-programs/sparkman-fellows-program.

Applications are due Sunday, April 26th at 11:59 PM CDT.

Applications for the Sparkman Fellows Program close in 3 DAYS! Through the program, students gain access to global healt...
04/23/2026

Applications for the Sparkman Fellows Program close in 3 DAYS! Through the program, students gain access to global health opportunities including international internships, travel awards and funding, mentorship, and hands on experience in global health. Eshika and Sergio, alumni of the fellows program, completed an internship at the Buiga Sunrise Centre in Uganda, working alongside community partners on global health initiatives.

If you’re interested in global health and/or public health, this program is an opportunity to gain a meaningful experience and explore where this field can take you!

To access the application and for more details, use the following link: https://www.uab.edu/sparkmancenter/students/education-experiential-programs/sparkman-fellows-program

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