Sustainable Health Initiative

The Sustainable Health Initiative (SHI) empowers student and trainee entrepreneurs to create innovative solutions to health challenges in low- and middle-income countries and under resourced areas in the United States. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, SHI tackles challenges through business-oriented approaches and collaboration and provides a community of practice where student innovators working in global health at all stages can learn, connect, and grow. The program has supported ventures in cancer diagnostics, data management for organ transplants, remote perinatal health monitoring, low-cost infant respirators, parenting support platforms, and many others.

In partnership with the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale (CITY), the SHI Venture Development Program (VDP) provides support to Yale student and trainee entrepreneurs as they develop global health innovations.

Ventures in the SHI Venture Development Program are eligible to apply for a Kalyanpur-Maheshwari Grant for Global Health Innovation. To receive a grant of up to $5,000, teams must complete SHI programming and meet their milestones, including pitching their venture. One grant will be awarded in the fall and spring semesters.

SHI Mentors-in-Residence (MIRs) are volunteers dedicated to assisting Yale students and trainees with their global health innovations. MIRs provide up to three hours of individual mentorship per month and participate in one SHI cohort group session per semester.

SHI fellows are full-time second-year Yale graduate students with experience and interest in global health innovation who serve as peer coaches for student teams.

The Innovation Exchange is a speaker series designed to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for students interested in global health innovation. The series provides students with insights into careers in innovation and serves as a valuable professional development opportunity.