Rohit Mukherjee will help establish an emergency dispatch center to improve maternal and child health outcomes in the West African country.
Rohit Mukherjee, a Rutgers Global Health Institute Student Council leader and 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.
This story from the Rutgers School of Public Health originally appeared on Newswise.