Emory’s Global Health Distinctions Program Announces New Leadership and Interns

We are pleased to share the exciting news about the J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency Program’s Global Health Distinctions Program (GHDP).

Established in 2007, the mission of the GHDP is to provide Emory’s internal medicine residents with training and mentoring in global health. The program prepares residents for field experiences in which they learn, build local capacity and sustainable relationships, and become inspired to consider careers in global health. GHDP graduates have a thorough understanding of active global health issues, hands-on domestic and international field experience, and a network of contacts that includes regional and national global health leaders. Since 2007, more than 45 internal medicine residents have participated in the program.

Paulina Rebolledo, MD, MSc, and Russell Kempker, MD, MSc, assistant professors of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, were recently appointed as the new leaders for the GHDP. They are eager to take on their new leadership roles and are excited to help train the next generation of global health academic clinicians.

Rebolledo and Kempker both completed their internal medicine residency and infectious diseases fellowship training at Emory University. Since joining the Division of Infectious Diseases as faculty members, they have both been heavily involved in global health.

Rebolledo’s major global health interests include the epidemiology of enteric pathogens among infants in low-middle income countries and the intersection between vaccine immune response, nutrition, and environmental factors. Kempker’s work in global health includes research in the areas of tuberculosis (TB) and cryptococcal infection, mentoring, and research training.

Rebolledo and Kempker look forward to building on the exceptional growth the program enjoyed under Dominique Cosco, associate professor of medicine in the Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, for more than eight years. Cosco will continue to work closely with Rebolledo and Kempker as they transition into their new roles.

New residents selected for the Global Health Distinctions Program

Selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants, the following five interns have been selected for the GHDP. They will embark on a two-year program that includes a longitudinal global health curriculum and clinical rotations in Tuba City, Arizona through the Indian Health Services and in Addis Ababa, Ehtiopia, or Tblisi, Georgia.

• Rahoul Ahuja
• Meghana Anugu
• Jane Fazio
• Chelsea Modlin
• Levani Odikadze

Please join us in welcoming Rebolledo and Kempker to their new roles and congratulating our GHDP scholars. We look forward to their exemplary leadership in global health as representatives of our program.