Project Name: Evaluation of Novel Implementation Science Course for Ukrainian HIV/ TB and Mental Health Researchers During Ukraine’s Humanitarian Crisis

Amy Allen’s interest in global health centers on strengthening health systems in settings affected by conflict and displacement. Her work focuses on the intersecting crises of HIV, tuberculosis, substance use, and mental health in Ukraine, where ongoing war has disrupted health services and research infrastructure. In collaboration with faculty at Brown University and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Amy is evaluating a virtual implementation science short course designed to support Ukrainian researchers through locally led training and mentorship. Her project emphasizes practical application, participant feedback, and sustainability, with the goal of informing capacity-building efforts in Ukraine and other conflict-affected regions.

Project Name: After the Fire: Surgical System Resilience and Trauma Care Recovery at Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo

Francesca Bragg’s project examines how a hospital surgical system responds to and recovers from sudden infrastructure loss. Her work focuses on Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo in the Azores, where a major fire in 2024 temporarily shut down operating rooms and disrupted trauma and emergency surgical care. Through a mixed-methods study, combining surgical data and interviews with hospital staff, Francesca is documenting how surgical services adapted during the recovery period, what barriers clinicians faced, and what strategies were used to help maintain care in a geographically isolated setting. Her research aims to inform disaster preparedness and surgical system resilience planning for hospitals facing similar conditions.

Project Name: Surgical Referral Networks and Capacity in the Emerging Nation of Bougainville

Dylan Bush’s work focuses on surgical access and health system planning in remote and post-conflict settings. His project examines surgical referral networks and local surgical capacity in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, an emerging nation preparing for independence from Papua New Guinea. Working in partnership with the Bougainville Department of Health, Dylan is assessing current surgical services at Buka Hospital and other regional health facilities, as well as patterns of referrals for complex surgical care. By documenting gaps in infrastructure, workforce, and access to safe surgery, his research aims to provide practical, policy-relevant data to support surgical system strengthening as Bougainville transitions to full autonomy.

Project Name: Anemia Risk and Hepatic Fibrosis in the context of Schistosoma japonicum Infection

Kirsten d’Hemecourt’s work focuses on the health impacts of schistosomiasis in endemic areas, with particular attention to anemia and chronic liver disease. Her project uses data from an ongoing Tropical Medicine Research Centers study in Leyte, Philippines, to examine how hepatic fibrosis related to Schistosoma japonicum infection contributes to the type and severity of anemia over time. By analyzing clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound data, Kirsten’s research aims to clarify the role of inflammation, particularly IL-6, in linking chronic liver injury to anemia of inflammation. This work aims to improve the understanding of disease progression in schistosomiasis and help guide more targeted approaches to managing anemia in affected populations.

Project Name: Retrospective Cohort Study of Older Adults Presenting with Traumatic Injuries to a Public Hospital in the Azores

Madeline Goosman’s work focuses on understanding how trauma affects older adults in aging and geographically isolated health systems. Her project examines trauma care among adults aged 65 and older in the Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, using data from the region’s main referral hospital. By comparing injury patterns, outcomes, and healthcare burden in the Azores with data from Rhode Island Hospital, her research aims to identify similarities and differences that can inform trauma system planning for aging populations. Her work addresses a critical gap in age-specific trauma data and is intended to support evidence-based policy, prevention strategies, and resource allocation for older adults in both island and mainland health systems.