Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative

The Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative (RGHPI) offers grants to support rural BC physicians or medical trainees and their partners on projects based in underserved or low-resource rural communities in British Columbia, other parts of Canada, or internationally.

The goals of this initiative are to promote and enhance capacity for generalism in the health services of communities in rural BC, and to foster reciprocal learning in diverse health systems and community contexts. The initiative demonstrates how global and planetary health (local and international) community partnerships can heighten awareness, create innovative solutions to address healthcare challenges in rural communities, and lead to improved health outcomes, especially for underserved, marginalized, and Indigenous populations.

Achievements

Strengthening Local Health Capacity Through Global Collaboration

In 2025, the RGHPI supported BC medical students and physicians working in partnership with communities in Ghana, Bhutan, and rural Northern BC. These collaborations focused on improving obstetric and neonatal care, advancing pain education that is locally driven and contextually informed, and teaching lifesaving CPR skills to students in underserved communities.

Advancing Care for Neurodivergent Children in Kenya

RGHPI celebrated the completion of a project funded in 2024: Assessment of Level of Services for Neurodiverse Children in Kajiado County and County Road Map for Strengthening Services for Neurodivergent Children. Led by Dr. Jeremy Andrew Penner, the study investigated how healthcare providers in Kajiado County, Kenya, support children with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and learning disabilities.

Through structured interviews with 28 healthcare providers across 10 facilities, the research assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices, while identifying gaps and opportunities within the local health system. The findings underscored the need for stronger provider training and early screening programs—insights that are now guiding the county’s efforts to improve access to neurodevelopmental care. This initiative reflects the spirit of RGHPI partnerships: respectful collaboration that amplifies local expertise and contributes to sustainable, evidence-informed change in communities across the globe.

Sharing Knowledge and Impact at BCRHRx 2025

Dr. Videsh Kapoor, RGHPI Physician Lead, shared insights on the program’s ongoing work during the BC Rural Health Research Exchange (BCRHRx). Her presentation highlighted the transformative potential of global health partnerships in advancing rural primary care, both internationally and across British Columbia.

Grant recipient Alison Hamilton also presented her project, Profiling Rural and Remote Substance Use Innovations for Generalist Practices, produced through the RGHPI-funded Addiction Practice Pod series. Her three-episode story arc illustrated how rural practitioners are adapting substance use care to meet the needs of their communities.

Explore the numbers

3 Grants

During 2025, three projects were approved for grants from the RGHPI.

35 Total Grants

Since 2018, 35 grants have been awarded.

Project Partnerships

The RGHPI continues to collaborate closely with the Rural Physician Research Grant Program (RPRGP), led by Dr. Dave Snadden and his team. Together, these initiatives strengthen understanding of the connections between rural and global health, a key contribution from British Columbia to the international academic community.

Plans for the Future

A new round of grant applications will be considered in 2026. RGHPI will also strengthen its support for applicants by connecting those not selected for funding with other partnership and learning opportunities within the broader rural and global health network.