Applied Global Public Health Initiative
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Empowering members to collaborate and tackle real-world challenges through projects focused on specific public health issues by developing innovative and systems-based competencies for sustainable global health impacts
The Applied Global Public Health Initiative (AGPHI) is a student-led and faculty-mentored, lab-based initiative at New York University. Its mission is to foster equitable and needs-driven solutions to global public health challenges through applied, systems-level thinking. Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, AGPHI collaborates with local, national, and international partners to design data-driven solutions to complex public health challenges. AGPHI empowers students to explore the complexity of global health through direct engagement with community partners, NGOs, ministries of health, and multilateral organizations.
At its core, AGPHI cultivates interdisciplinary collaboration, practical skill development, and a commitment to equity.
Our lab is built on the following pillars:
- Human-Centered Design
- Social Behaviour Change
- Monitoring & Evaluation
- Entrepreneurship
- Systems Thinking
- Rural Health (Globally & Nationally)
Students participate in team-based research projects that incorporate systems mapping, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, stakeholder interviews, data analysis, and curriculum development. These projects not only contribute to real-world impact but also prepare students for future careers in global public health practice, policy, and advocacy. Weekly lab meetings include skills development, project updates, and guest speakers from the global health community.
Project Tracks
- Comparative Data Analytics
- Data Processing and Visualization
- Memo & Proposal Writing
- Project Management
- Grant Writing
- Literature and Systematic Reviews
- Social Listening
- IRB Application Management
- Needs Assessments
- Video Production & Social Media
- Systems Mapping
- Policy Development & Advocacy
Areas of Interest
- Public Health
- Global Health
- Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Public Policy
- Computer Science
- Marketing & Communication
- Data Science & Visualization
- Business & Project Management
- Machine Learning
- Health Systems & Humanitarian Response
Partners
- NYU College of Global Public Health
- NYU Tandon School of Engineering
- NYU Abu Dhabi
- Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro
- AFYA Foundation
- Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)
- UNICEF LACRO
- Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB)
- Central Androy Regional University (CURA)
- Ministry of Health – Lebanon
- Arba Minch University
- BLOOM Foundation
- Sullivan 180, Bon Secours Mercy Hospital
- Sullivan County Department of Health
Faculty Advisor
- Chris Dickey
- Email: chris.dickey@nyu.edu
VIP Student Manager (for general VIP program-related inquiries)
- Sneha D’Andrea
- Email: sud2005@nyu.edu
Methods & Technologies
- STATA, R, and R Studio
- SQL & REDCap
- Tableau & Taguette
- SAS & ArcGIS
- Big Data Analysis
- Qualtrics & Dedoose
- Systems mapping (e.g., Kumu, Gapminder)
- Literature & qualitative review tools
- Adobe Acrobat, Illustrator, Photoshop
- Human-Centered Design
- Google Workspace & Microsoft Office Suite
- Public Health, Behavior Change, & Anthropology methods
- Video production tools
Skills
Data Visualization & Analysis
- R, STATA, SAS, SQL
- Tableau, REDCap, Taguette, Qualtrics
- SR-Accelerator, CINAHL, Covidence, EndNote
- Dedoose, Ovid, Nexis Uni
- IHME, Kumu, Gapminder
Writing
- Academic Manuscripts
- Policy Briefs & Op-eds
- Concept Notes & Memos
- Grant Writing & Investment Cases
- Journalism & Scientific Papers
- SOPs, Disaster Planning, Literature Reviews
Graphics & Digital Tools
- Canva, Microsoft Suite
- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop
- Google Workspace
Additional Competencies
- Bottleneck Analysis
- Community Health Worker Training & Education
- IRB Application Management
- Project Management
- Video Production
- Social Media Management
- Systems Mapping
Languages Spoken in the Lab
- English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin
- Urdu, Russian, Armenian, Amharic, ASL, Punjabi
- Yoruba, Farsi, Italian, Bosnian, Tamazight, Wolof, Fulani
Current Projects
Climate Change
1. Madagascar Food Security
This project investigates how climate change is driving food insecurity and health crises in southern Madagascar through field research, systems mapping, and partnership with local universities.
2. PAHO Adolescent SRH & Climate
In collaboration with PAHO, this project explores the impact of climate change on adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Latin America and the Caribbean through literature review, social listening, and stakeholder interviews.
Decolonization
3. CMMB Volunteer Ethics Evaluation
This team is developing a scalable evaluation framework to assess ethical practices in global health volunteering, promoting equity and accountability within international NGO programs.
Medical Supply Chain & Health Systems
4. AFYA Medical Supply Chain Mapping
This project analyzes the flow and efficiency of medical supply donations to low-resource settings—especially in Sub-Saharan Africa—through systems mapping and inventory research.
5. Sullivan County Co-op
Focused on domestic health equity, this project supports a rural New York community co-op by conducting needs assessments and building partnerships to address systemic barriers to care.
Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health
6. Queretaro MNH (Mexico)
Working alongside the BLOOM Foundation, this project supports clinical trials and data collection to improve maternal and child health outcomes in underserved Mexican communities.
Neglected Tropical Disease Surveillance
7. Mycetoma Surveillance – Ethiopia
This project partners with Ethiopian institutions to integrate mycetoma surveillance and control strategies into national neglected tropical disease efforts using mobile technology and field research.
Health Education
8. Lebanon & MENA Health Modules
This team develops public health training modules for community health workers in Lebanon, with plans to expand across the Middle East and North Africa.
9. Youth Vaccination Education – PAHO
In partnership with PAHO, this project designs and distributes youth-focused vaccine education materials to combat misinformation and increase vaccine confidence across Latin America.