Rohit Mukherjee, a student in the Department of Urban-Global Public Health at the Rutgers School of Public Health, has received a Fulbright Award in public health for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Mukherjee will conduct research with the Ghana Health Service and Columbia University as part of a project to establish a novel emergency dispatch center in the Northern and Oti regions, integrating into the National Ambulance Service to improve maternal and child health outcomes. Under the supervision of the Ghana Health Service, he will coordinate the development of dispatch center training materials for data-driven decision making, telemedicine operations, and apply validated clinical protocols to streamline referrals for emergencies at sub-district, district, and regional levels.
“Through the scope provided by my academic training, entrepreneurial pursuits, and research endeavors, I hope to address the organization, provision, and awareness of emergency services for obstetric and neonatal care to effectively reduce preventable morbidity and mortality,” said Mukherjee, an immigrant who has experienced disadvantages due to limited healthcare access and coverage.
Mukherjee is one of over 2,100 American students who will conduct research, share knowledge, and foster meaningful connections across communities in the United States and Ghana.
“I could not have had this privilege of representing the United States in Ghana without the tremendous support of my mentors at the Rutgers School of Public Health, Columbia University, and the Ghana Health Service, who reinforced my conviction to improve global health equity and attain one of the most transformative achievements in my life,” he added.
Fulbright recipients are selected in an open, merit-based competition that considers leadership potential, academic and professional achievement, and a record of service. As Fulbright alumni, their careers are enriched by joining a network of thousands of esteemed scholars, many of whom are leaders in their fields. Fulbright alumni include 60 Nobel Prize laureates, 88 Pulitzer Prize recipients, and 37 who have served as a head of state or government.
About the Rutgers School of Public Health The Rutgers School of Public Health – New Jersey’s leading academic institution in public health – is committed to advancing health and wellbeing and preventing disease throughout New Jersey, the United States, and the world, by preparing students as public health leaders, scholars, and practitioners; conducting public health research and scholarship; engaging collaboratively with communities and populations; and actively advocating for policies, programs, and services through the lens of equity and social justice. Learn how the Rutgers School of Public Health is “keeping the ‘public’ in public health,” by visiting them at https://sph.rutgers.edu.
About the Fulbright Program The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to forge lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries, counter misunderstandings, and help people and nations work together toward common goals. Since its establishment in 1946, the Fulbright Program has enabled more than 390,000 dedicated and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas, and find solutions to shared international concerns. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in more than 160 countries worldwide. For further information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, please visit http://eca.state.gov/fulbright or contact the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Press Office by telephone 202-632-6452 or e-mail ECA-Press@state.gov.
