Dr. Sasha Hernandez and Dr. Claudia Leung Awarded Fogarty Global Health Research Fellowships for 2023-2024

Two of AMPATH Ghana Team Leads are honored to be a part of the 2023 – 2024 ACHIEVE cohort. As ACHIEVE trainees, Dr. Sasha Hernandez, OB/GYN Team Lead, and Dr. Claudia Leung, Medicine & Pediatrics Team Lead, are excited to leverage the learned implementation science research skills though this NIH research training grant to advance the tripartite mission of AMPATH Ghana.

The ACHIEVE Training Program focuses on increasing data science research capacity in order to address global health disparities affecting children, adolescents, and their adult caregivers. As a consortium within theNIH Fogarty International Center (FIC) Global Health Program for fellows and Scholars/Launching Future Leaders in Global Health Research Training Program (LAUNCH program), ACHIEVE is designed for MD and PhD trainees from diverse backgrounds in the U.S., as well as trainees from six countries in sub-Saharan Africa—specifically, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda.

Dr. Sasha Hernandez is working to understand how to best increase uptake of cervical cancer screening in northern Ghana, which is a key priority for the region. Through engagement with both UDS and TTH faculty and researchers, key areas of this study will elucidate facilitators and barriers that policy makers, administrators, and doctors encounter when trying to screen for cervical cancer. Ultimately, findings will allow key stakeholders to co-develop strategies to overcome barriers and capitalize on facilitators that the AMPATH Ghana Chronic Disease Management Cervical Cancer Group will pilot and test to increase the impact of cervical cancer screening in the region.

Dr. Claudia Leung is focused on increasing delivery of preventative mental health interventions to adolescentsin Tamale, identifying optimal delivery settings and strategies to drive this change. She will be engaging with community organizations, school guidance units, community leaders, and adolescents to shed light on barriers and facilitators that contribute to intervention challenges and success. These insights will inform stakeholder collaborative co-design of tailored strategies that aim to not only enhance the immediate delivery of mental health prevention interventions but ensure long term sustainability and lasting impact for youth in Tamale.