EMPOWER-TZ Fellowship (2023–2025): Building Capacity in Implementation Science
EMPOWER-TZ fellows pose outside BSPH during their time in Baltimore.
The EMPOWER-TZ fellowship (2023–2025), led by the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU) in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Department of Surgery, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and the Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS), recently concluded its two-year program. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the fellowship trains health professionals in implementation science with a focus on surgery, rehabilitation, and humanitarian health in Tanzania.
On August 18, 2025, the fellows—Ibrahim Mohammed Said, Zainab Khalfan, and Margareth Chuwa—presented and defended their research proposals at Muhimbili University’s Upanga Campus, marking the culmination of their training. Their projects addressed pressing health care challenges in Tanzania, including maternal health, non-communicable diseases, and the integration of rehabilitation data into the national health information system.
Throughout the program, the fellows completed a comprehensive curriculum of seminars, workshops, journal clubs, and research development activities. Mentored by faculty from both the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (BSPH) and MUHAS, they gained hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating health interventions in low-resource and humanitarian settings. Their training also included the BSPH Summer Institute, an intensive two-month program that further strengthened their skills in implementation science.
Upon completing the program, fellows were awarded a Master of Public Health in Implementation Science from MUHAS.
Prior to completing the fellowship, the cohort had participated in the Global Rehabilitation Leadership Institute (GRLI) 2024 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where they received advanced training in leadership, health systems integration, evidence-based decision-making, and policy.
JH-IIRU extends its warm congratulations to Ibrahim, Zainab, and Margareth for their dedication and achievements, and celebrates their ongoing commitment to advancing health care in Tanzania.