Yale Global Health Students United for Regional and Global Education (YGH SURGE)
About Us
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YGH SURGE is a student-led, interactive online global health education program for professional students across disciplines focused on addressing shared global health issues. SURGE was founded as a pilot program in 2020 by Yale medical students Hanya Qureshi and Autumn Nobles, in collaboration with the Yale School of Medicine Office of Global Health Education (YSM OGHE), to foster international and interdisciplinary connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. SURGE has since expanded to an annual program that highlights a new theme in global health each year. Since its founding, SURGE has brought together over 400 students from over 35 different countries, 40 institutions and from multiple disciplines, while maintaining strong connections with former participants who serve as alumni advisors to provide mentorship. Today, SURGE strives to form sustainable partnerships and foster the next generation of global health leaders and advocates.
Annual SURGE Themes
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- 2020 – The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Health
- 2021 – Rights and Their Violations
- 2022 – Structural Violence and Inequities
- 2023 – Global Health & The Environment
- 2024 – The Role of AI in Global Health
- 2025 – Conflict and Collaboration
- 2026 - Building Global Resilience: Biopsychosocial Approaches to Integrative Care
Mission and Objectives
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- To promote an interdisciplinary perspective in approaching relevant global health problems and solutions
- To facilitate the development of strong connections and partnerships between students of diverse backgrounds and experiences
- To explore the strengths of case-based, peer-learning in global health education and innovation
Participation
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YGH SURGE is designed for professional students interested in global health in all countries and of all disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, law, business, and more. SURGE selects its participants each year through nominations from the administration of professional institutions.
Active participation is expected, and stable internet access is required as SURGE is conducted online, via Zoom.
If you are interested in participating, please contact us via email and provide us the contact information of your institution’s administration.
Leadership
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2026 Co-Leader (YSM)
Brian Zhou is an MD candidate at Yale School of Medicine with interests in global mental health, medical anthropology, and interventional psychiatry. Brian graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College with a B.A. in Social Anthropology, minoring in Global Health/Health Policy. Brian's guiding aspiration is to learn and practice a human-centered philosophy of empathy and care, grounded in a biopsychosocial and integrative approach to wellbeing. Brian is currently involved in the Adversity, Brain, and Novel Therapeutics (ABN) Lab as a qualitative research scientist investigating the acute subjective effects of DMT (a short-acting psychedelic) on treatment for alcohol use disorders. Brian's prior research focused on sociocultural explanatory models of adolescent substance use, along with peer counseling and community-based psychological interventions. Brian's multidisciplinary perspective is informed by work experience in global health contexts, including Morocco and India, and exploration of mental health, spirituality, and quests for meaning in 15+ countries as a Henry Russel Shaw Fellow.
Founding Director
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Founding Director, Head Strategy & Development, Yale Global Health - Students United for Regional & Global Health Education (YGH SURGE), Office of Global Health Education
Executive Planning Committee
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- Clarinda Nana Agyeman Attah, MD- Ghana
- Hanya M. Qureshi, MD – USA
- Insiya Saifudeen – Sri-Lanka
- Kuku Muva, Engr. – Ghana
- Paul Okoye – Nigeria
- Shahryar Rana, MD – Canada, Pakistan