Grants
Ventura Global Health Project (VGHP) has spent over a decade dedicated to supporting clinical care for populations around the world who are in dire need of basic healthcare services. Our success is deeply rooted in the belief that the quality of healthcare is directly linked to the quality of training that healthcare professionals receive. This conviction drives us to partner with outstanding, unopposed family medicine residency programs that emphasize comprehensive, full-spectrum training. We take great pride in awarding grants to the most devoted and adaptable professionals who are committed to making a lasting impact in global health.
VGHP offers a diverse array of grants designed to support healthcare professionals at various stages of their careers, from residents just beginning their journey to seasoned doctors making significant contributions in their fields. Our Resident Grants provide crucial support to those in training, helping them to develop the skills necessary to serve in challenging environments. Fellowship Grants are awarded to those who seek to further specialize in global health, ensuring they have the resources to advance their expertise and broaden their impact. Equipment Grants are instrumental in providing the necessary tools and technologies to healthcare providers working in resource-limited settings, enabling them to deliver higher-quality care. Finally, our Career Grants support professionals who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to global health, ensuring they can continue to contribute to the development of nascent health programs abroad.
We are particularly focused on supporting individuals who:
- Have a deep passion for improving care for medically underserved populations.
- Are committed to integrating global health into their careers in meaningful and impactful ways.
- Actively participate in the development and growth of emerging healthcare programs in economically disadvantaged regions.
By offering these multiple avenues of support, VGHP not only empowers family medicine experts but also contributes to the broader distribution of medical knowledge and the growth of healthcare programs in underserved areas. Our grants are designed to foster a new generation of healthcare leaders who are equipped to address the complex health challenges of today and tomorrow. Through these efforts, VGHP is making a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals, while also strengthening healthcare systems in communities that need it the most.
At the heart of VGHP’s mission is the understanding that improving global health requires a multifaceted approach, one that includes robust training, ongoing professional development, and the provision of essential resources. By supporting healthcare professionals at every stage of their careers, VGHP ensures that the impact of our work is both immediate and long-lasting. We are proud to be a part of a global movement towards equitable, high-quality healthcare for all, and we remain committed to continuing our work with the passionate, dedicated professionals who share our vision.
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.”
– Dr. 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.”
– Dr. Jaydon Kiernants
To find out more about resident grants, start here:
https://www.venturafamilymed.org/externships
https://medicaleducation.ascension.org/kansas/via-christi-family-medicine-residency/contact-us
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
The Ventura Global Health Project (VGHP) is honored to support an extraordinary group of doctors who have not only received resident and fellowship grants but have also continued to expand their careers by providing essential care to medically underserved populations around the world.
These grants, which include generous monthly and yearly stipends, are designed to support:
- Doctors in their formative years: These grants provide a crucial source of income for doctors who are early in their careers and are in the process of gaining invaluable experience. This financial support allows them to focus on developing their skills and knowledge without the added burden of financial stress.
- Those committed to long-term service: VGHP particularly values individuals who are willing to dedicate several years of their lives to healthcare service abroad. These grants enable doctors to make long-term commitments to communities in need, ensuring sustained healthcare delivery and deeper, more impactful connections with the populations they serve.
- Faculty doctors at emerging programs: Another important focus of VGHP is to support faculty doctors who play a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing low-resource family medicine programs in underserved areas. These professionals are not only caregivers but also mentors and educators, guiding the next generation of healthcare providers.
Over the years, VGHP has proudly provided grants to exceptional individuals who have gone on to make significant contributions to global health. Among these are Dr. Michelle Yates, Dr. Amy Thurman and Dr. Andy Thurman, Dr. Kavitha Simpson, and Dr. James Appel. These dedicated professionals have not only advanced their own careers but have also generously opened their homes to other residents and fellows, fostering a spirit of community and collaboration. Their leadership has been instrumental in igniting a passion for service among incoming doctors and in helping to establish and grow healthcare programs in regions that need them the most.
Through their work, these doctors have exemplified the mission of VGHP, serving as both healers and pioneers in the global health landscape. Their contributions have had a lasting impact on the communities they serve, and their stories continue to inspire new generations of medical professionals who are eager to make a difference in the world.
Equipment Grants
In collaboration with the Tyrone Heritage Foundation, the Ventura Global Health Project (VGHP) is proud to provide essential equipment grants to dedicated career doctors and select healthcare organizations. These grants are designed to ensure that the necessary resources are always available, particularly in critical and emergency situations where access to essential medical supplies can be a matter of life and death.
These grants cover a wide range of equipment and materials crucial for the safe and effective practice of medicine in challenging environments. From the acquisition of utilitarian ultrasound systems that are indispensable for diagnosing and monitoring patients, to the provision of protective masks and hygienic coverings that safeguard both healthcare providers and patients, these funds address the urgent needs of medical professionals working in areas where even the most basic levels of care can be hard to come by.
The impact of these equipment grants has been far-reaching. Dr. Zach Self, Dr. John Fankhauser, and Dr. Michelle Yates are just a few of the dedicated professionals who have received this vital support. They have used these funds to not only sustain their medical practices but also to enhance the health and well-being of countless patients in underserved regions. By ensuring they have access to the right tools and materials, VGHP and the Tyrone Heritage Foundation empower these doctors to continue their life-saving work with greater efficiency and safety.
These grants do more than just provide equipment—they represent a commitment to supporting those who are on the front lines of healthcare in some of the most challenging settings around the world. By partnering with the Tyrone Heritage Foundation, VGHP is able to extend its reach, ensuring that doctors and healthcare organizations have the resources they need to deliver care where it is needed most.
This partnership is a testament to the shared vision of VGHP and the Tyrone Heritage Foundation: a world where no one is denied the care they need because of a lack of resources. Through these equipment grants, we are working to make that vision a reality, one life-saving piece of equipment at a time.
“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.