A team from the Yale Department of Psychiatry recently visited rural Uganda as part of the Global Health Experiential Fellowship (GHEF), an initiative organized by Empower Through Health.

The visit aimed to explore and understand stigma related to mental health. The team included Robert Rosenheck, MD, professor emeritus of psychiatry and co-director of Empower Through Health; Yang Jae Lee, MD, psychiatry resident and chair and executive director of Empower Through Health; and Salih Cayir, MD, postdoctoral research fellow in psychiatry.

The group traveled to Mpunde, a rural community in Uganda, to teach American and Ugandan students qualitative research methods through structured presentations, interactive training sessions, and meetings.

The GHEF program, a five-week immersive experience, enables undergraduate, graduate, and medical students to engage deeply with global health issues, specifically mental health stigma in this context. Fellows collaborate closely with Yale psychiatrists, researchers, and local students on high-impact projects.

Upon returning, fellows will present their preliminary findings at the annual Global Health Equity Symposium scheduled for the Fall. Beyond their summer experience, fellows also can continue their research and contribute to peer-reviewed publications on critical global health issues.

This initiative highlights Yale Psychiatry’s and Empower Through Health's commitment to fostering cross-cultural collaboration and addressing pressing global health challenges, particularly mental health stigma.