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International Program in Public Health Leadership (IPPHL)

The International Program in Public Health Leadership (IPPHL) expands the policy and leadership acumen of public health leaders throughout Africa to collectively transform health systems.

About the Program

The International Program in Public Health Leadership is an eight-month program for emerging leaders working in or closely with African Ministries of Health. A flagship program of the Evans School at the University of Washington, IPPHL expands the policy and leadership acumen of leaders to develop and implement lasting public policy solutions and transform health systems. The curriculum emphasizes the foundations of policy analysis, evidence and evaluation, implementation, and personal leadership development.

Since 2017, 192 public health leaders with an array of health and policy expertise from across 33 countries in Africa have completed the program, forming a powerful community of individuals transforming health systems.  The program is fully funded by the Gates Foundation and partners with the Center for Creative Leadership.

Meet Our 2025 Cohort

IPPHL Cohort 8_photo_onepager

Our Model

Fellows engage with the Evans School’s evidence-informed policy expertise and the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)’s acclaimed leadership programs to:

  • Develop politically feasible, evidence-informed policies and programs
  • Drive organizational change & overcome resistance to set agendas for sustainable implementation
  • Build internal and external coalitions for change

One-on-one executive coaching & UW faculty advisors provide rapid feedback on leadership and policy development.

Case-based learning prepares fellows to apply skills and frameworks to real-world challenges.

A unique blend of online programming and in-person residencies provide a variety of opportunities for global engagement and collaborative learning.

Emphasizing individual expertise and encouraging peer to peer learning, IPPHL positions fellows to form strong relationships for ongoing collaboration.

Upon joining the growing Alumni Network, fellows leverage these relationships and access continued program support to advance organizational and systems level change.

Self-driven policy projects provide an experiential framework for identifying and implementing solutions to real-time public health challenges. Projects have touched on a range of topics including:

  • Improving Data Quality of the Routine Health Information System to Support Evidence-Based Health Policy in Ethiopia
  • Introducing Social Health Insurance in Nasarwa State, Nigeria
  • Raising the Neglected Tropical Disease Profile in Tanzania
  • Uptake of Human Papilloma Vaccination in Uganda: Barriers and Opportunities
Group of IPPHL Students

Our Fellows

View all of our fellows. Or search and filter below.

Rahima Shikur Ahmed
Ethiopia

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Advisor, Office of the Minister
Ministry of Health
Khansaa Ahmed
Sudan

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Head of Case Management Unit
The Federal Ministry of Health, Directorate General of PHC
Hossan Ajuck
Kenya

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Project Manager
East Africa Kidney Institute (EAKI)
Bangaman Christian Akani
Cote d'Ivoire

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Medical officer
Institut National d'Hygiène Public
Essona Matatom Akara
Togo

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Health District Manager
Ministry of Health
Kabukabu Akufuna
Zambia

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Senior Environmental Health Officer
Ministry of Health

The IPPHL Team

Abigail Dunne-Moses

Center for Creative Leadership, Senior Faculty
Abigail Dunne-Moses

Absa Samba

Global Engagement Manager, IPPHL
Absa Samba

Allan J. Calarco

Center for Creative Leadership, Global Solutions Faculty-Health Sector
Allan J. Calarco

Anna Segelman

Project Manager, IPPHL
Anna Segelman

Evelyn Ng’ang’a

Teaching Assistant, IPPHL
Evelyn Nganga Headshot

Liz Steen

Director of Learning & Impact, IPPHL
steen Headshot

Marissa Busch

Project Coordinator, IPPHL

Mary Kay Gugerty

Associate Dean for Teaching & Learning;
Nancy Bell Evans Professor in Nonprofit Management
Mary Kay Gugerty

Nadine Shaw

Director of Global Strategy, IPPHL

Uma Trivede

Global Engagement Coordinator, IPPHL
Uma Trivede Headshot

Yaa Boateng

Program Assistant, IPPHL
Yaa Boateng

Engagement Collaborators

The International Program in Public Health Leadership is funded by the Gates Foundation and works in partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership. To learn more about our collaborators and how to work with us, email us at ipphl@uw.edu