Ventura Global Health Project has achieved over a decade of supporting clinical care for populations across the world in dire need of access to basic healthcare. Our track record of success is founded on the belief that quality care goes as deep as the quality of training residents receive, which is why we partner with outstanding, unopposed family medicine residency programs and award the most devoted, adaptable professionals affiliated with them.
VGHP bestows a variety of grants to residents, doctors, faculty, alumni, and those who:
- Have a passion for helping and improving care for the medically underserved
- Will continue to support global health throughout their careers in various ways
- Commit to participating in the development of nascent health programs abroad
Offering multiple support opportunities for family medicine experts at varying stages in their careers is how Ventura Global Health Project contributes to the distribution of knowledge and growth of healthcare programs in economically disadvantaged places.
Resident Grants
Prior to collaborating with VGHP, Ventura County Medical Center had a small but successful internal nonprofit to raise funds among doctors and provide grants to residents interested in an International Elective, resulting in two to three residents per year exploring medicine abroad for anywhere from six to nine months.
As the IE offering continued to develop, it became clear the demand for it would only increase, and VCMC faculty requested additional financial support to help facilitate these experiences and burgeoning medical programs in marginalized communities. VGHP seamlessly stepped into that role and started reimbursing 100% of expenses, which immediately expanded the International Elective’s reach to 14 residents.
Since then, we have also delivered similar grants for residents at our partner Via Christi (International Family Medicine Fellowship), and to date, Ventura Global Health Project has funded more than 200 fellowships and obtained a multitude of trip reports and photos sharing how our support has helped lead residents to life-changing medical experiences.
“I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in medicine abroad, and the lessons and experiences from my time in Guatemala have served as an important reminder of why I went into medicine in the first place.”
– Nastassja Bell
“I was able to build upon and utilize the full-spectrum of the skills I learned at VCMC, especially my surgical, wound care, and procedural skills. When out of work, I spent my time with the Appel family, who welcomed me into their home. The four weeks I spent there was not nearly enough, and I cannot wait to return. I am so appreciative to the entire Appel family, Ventura Family Medicine Education Fund and Cross Cultural Care for making this trip possible. Most of all, I am thankful for the patients who I had the privilege of meeting and caring for.”
– Jaydon Kiernan
To find out more about resident grants, start here:
Fellowship Grants
After witnessing the successful growth of VCMC’s International Elective program, VGHP partnered with Ventura County Medical Center Family Medicine Residency in 2016 to officially launch the Ventura Global Health Fellowship, a pinnacle achievement.
These immersive, metamorphic fellowships are traditionally one year periods where residents spend six months learning in their home hospital diving into the nuances of rural health education, in areas like tropical medicine and tuberculosis, and six subsequent months in international settings on two to three month rotations.
With placements in countries like Liberia, Kenya, Guatemala, and Ethiopia, residents have the opportunity to be heavily involved in every component of patient care, including emergency medicine, resuscitation and critical care, and obstetric care. VGHP is dedicated to helping budding professionals get the kind of experiences that will cement their careers in rural medicine, and currently provides both monthly and annual stipends to Ventura fellows and Contra Costa and Via Christi fellows, respectively.
“Your support and funding not only covered our family’s living and travel expenses but also helped me cover translation services in Uganda as well as support several of our patients there who couldn’t afford life-saving medications, labs and imaging. Our family is looking forward to returning to Africa for an extended period to continue to serve in medical missions. This year has been foundational for our future plans and we are very grateful that your support made it possible.”
– Juan Gonzalez
To find out more about fellowship grants, start here:
Career Grants
Ventura Global Health Project is privileged to support a special subset of doctors who have previously received resident grants and/or fellowship grants and have continued to grow their careers in providing care to the medically underserved.
These generous monthly and yearly stipends are awarded to:
- Doctors in their formative years building experience and needing a source of income
- Those who can and will commit extended time (several years) to healthcare abroad
- Faculty doctors who provide support at nascent low-resource family medicine programs
VGHP has provided grants to help launch the global health careers of Dr. Michelle Yates, Dr. Amy Thurman and Dr. Andy Thurman, Dr. Kavitha Simpson, and Dr. James Appel, among others. These individuals have welcomed other residents and fellows into their homes, played integral roles in sparking incoming doctors’ passion for service, and contributed to the development of budding healthcare programs in high-need areas.
To find out more about fellowship grants, contact us here.
Equipment Grants
In partnership with Tyrone Heritage Foundation, VGHP also provides equipment grants to career doctors and select organizations to ensure necessary resources are available, including in emergency situations. From utilitarian ultrasound systems to protective masks and hygienic coverings, these funds help cover equipment and materials needed for the safe and efficient practice of medicine in places where even the most basic of care is not always guaranteed.
Doctors Zach Self, John Fankhauser, and Michelle Yates have all been recipients of equipment grants and have successfully used these funds to sustain their practices and patient health.
“I really appreciate your generosity…to keep us on top of our PPE needs, and I continue to admire your contribution to healthcare, both here and internationally. Thank you so much.”
– Dr. John Fankhauser
To find out more about equipment grants, contact us here.