Partners In Health Celebrates the First Medical Class of University of Global Health Equity

The inaugural group of dual medical degree students, known as "Paul's Class," marks a historic milestone for global health education.

Burera District, Rwanda (January 23, 2026) - Partners In Health (PIH), alongside its partners at the Government of Rwanda, Cummings Foundation, and Gates Foundation, is pleased to announce the first graduating class of the University of Global Health Equity's (UGHE) dual medical degree program, which combines the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with the Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD).

UGHE was founded to address stark disparities in global health capacity, especially in regions where disease burden far outpaces available trained clinicians, including Rwanda. The rigorous curriculum of the dual medical degree program was designed to train clinicians to deliver high-quality care while strengthening health systems across the country and region alike.

"Our graduates are not only clinicians with world-class medical training but advocates for equity, justice, and resilient health systems," said Dr. Sheila Davis, CEO of PIH. "This inaugural class embodies the heart of UGHE's mission to link high-quality clinical care with the principles of human rights and social justice and is also a manifestation of Dr. Paul Farmer's vision for a more just and equitable global health care system."

UGHE's inaugural MBBS-MGHD graduates will complete their training with two degrees: a medical degree and a master's degree, integrating clinical excellence with leadership in health systems strengthening and equity-centered delivery. These medical graduates will graduate in one of four specialized options: One Health, Health Management, Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health, or Global Surgery. 78 students in total are graduating from UGHE this year, including 30 from the MBBS-MGHD program and 48 from the MGHD program.

"UGHE was founded on the principle that all lives are of equal value. We have dedicated ourselves to training students to embody this principle by serving with equity, commitment, integrity, humility, and a spirit of accompaniment," said Professor Philip Cotton, Vice Chancellor at UGHE. "On January 25th, students will graduate, joining the many others who have completed their studies over the past decade, a milestone we are proud to celebrate. We extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported this mission."

The six-and-a-half-year curriculum of the dual medical program integrates rigorous clinical instruction with community-based learning, research, and coursework on health disparities and social determinants of health. Students live and study near Butaro District Hospital, a vital teaching site that connects learning directly to patient care and community needs. The 30 health care leaders in the inaugural graduating class demonstrate a commitment to serving underserved populations as they begin their careers by agreeing to work with the Rwandan Ministry of Health in underserved settings for five years. This commitment furthers UGHE's values of service, equity, leadership and systems change.

"Today, we celebrate a momentous milestone as we honor the graduation of our first medical cohort, MBBS-MGHD. Over the past six and a half years, this remarkable group of students has shown dedication, resilience, and passion for improving health outcomes, most importantly for the most vulnerable. The country and continent expect a lot from them," said Professor Abebe Bekele, Deputy Vice Chancellor at UGHE. "We also congratulate our MGHD graduates who spent 18 months with us, training to become excellent leaders in global health. Their journey is just beginning, and we are already seeing the impact they are making on healthcare on the continent."

When the late Dr. Paul Farmer first established UGHE in 2014, he sought to create a new generation of health leaders equipped to build and sustain equitable health systems in underserved regions worldwide. He chose Rwanda as the site for this work because of how the country has demonstrated what happens when communities invest in the health of their people. The graduation of the UGHE's first medical class is a real-world demonstration of his unwavering belief that medical education should be inseparably linked to social justice and community service.

The ceremony celebrating these 30 graduates and their tremendous accomplishment will be available to watch live online on Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. CAT.

About Partners In Health
Partners In Health is a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality health care to impoverished communities worldwide. Founded in 1987, PIH works alongside local governments to strengthen health systems and promote the right to health. For more information, please visit www.pih.org.

About UGHE
The University of Global Health Equity is an international university based in Rwanda, which trains the next generation of global health leaders through equity-centered education, research, and practice, grounded in the belief that health is a human right. For more information, please visit ughe.org.

Please contact [email protected] with any press inquiries.

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