GROW: a model for mentorship to advance women's leadership in global health

Abstract

In this essay, we discuss the under-representation of women in leadership positions in global health (GH) and the importance of mentorship to advance women's standing in the field. We then describe the mentorship model of GROW, Global Research for Women. We describe the theoretical origins of the model and an adapted theory of change explaining how the GROW model for mentorship advances women's careers in GH. We present testimonials from a range of mentees who participated in a pilot of the GROW model since 2015. These mentees describe the capability-enhancing benefits of their mentorship experience with GROW. Thus, preliminary findings suggest that the GROW mentorship model is a promising strategy to build women's leadership in GH. We discuss supplemental strategies under consideration and next steps to assess the impact of GROW, providing the evidence to inform best practices for curricula elsewhere to build women's leadership in GH.

Gender equality in global health leadership: Cross-sectional survey of global health graduates

“…Kabeer (1999) defines women's empowerment as the process by which women claim new resources, which enhance their agency, or ability to make strategic life choices that advance their achievement of self-defined goals, in all domains. Research from LMICs (Cornwall, 2016) focuses on how women's resources and agency may affect women's nutrition (Sinharoy et al, 2018), mental health (Yount et al, 2018), sexual and reproductive health (James-Hawkins et al, 2016), and freedom from violence (Yount, 2005), as well as the health and nutrition of their children (Smith et al, 2002). The effects of women's empowerment (resources and agency) on their career trajectories and leadership in applied and academic GH is understudied.…”

“…In the Hubert Department of Global Health at Emory University, we are asking a solutionoriented question: 'Can empowerment-based models enable more women to attain leadership positions in GH?' Training the next generation of women leaders in GH is one of three strategic priorities of departmental faculty who have developed an empowerment-based model to advance gender equality in GH leadership (Yount et al, 2018).…”

“…Each barrier should be addressed to ensure women's full representation in the highest ranks. Pilot data suggests that empowermentbased mentorship is a promising strategy to advance all women in GH (Yount et al, 2018).…”

Building Global Health Capacity at a Minority-Serving Institution in the Bronx: The Potential Role of PhotoVoice and the Geo-Social Pathway Framework in This Endeavor

“…1,2 Diversifying the global and public health workforce is both important and worthwhile considering racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in public health sciences careers in the United States, 3,4 and women-particularly women of color and women from low-income countries-lack representation in global health leadership positions worldwide. 5 Global health is an interdisciplinary field of study that provides training in the identification of health disparities and the design of collaborative, sustainable solutions to improve health and human development. 6 Learning objectives for undergraduate global health programs typically aim to help students: apply concepts, frameworks, and methods to analyze health inequity and the social determinants of health; assess how health events in one country influence other countries; practice cultural competency and social justice; collaborate with community and organizations; and create sustainable health programs.…”

“…1 , 2 Diversifying the global and public health workforce is both important and worthwhile considering racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented in public health sciences careers in the United States, 3 , 4 and women—particularly women of color and women from low-income countries—lack representation in global health leadership positions worldwide. 5…”