15 Years of Rotterdam Global Health Initiative — Progress through Partnership

From a small group of driven global health researchers in Rotterdam in 2011, to a vibrant worldwide community of more than 350 members. Partnerships have progressed the research, teaching and societal impact that the RGHI has created over the past fifteen years. Join us to celebrate RGHI's members and to hear about successful partnerships that engage local experts and communities on the most pressing societal challenges in health and healthcare.

Date: Friday 18 Sep 2026, 09:30 - 13:30
Type: Symposium
Spoken Language: English
Location: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Woudestein Campus, Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, Bayle Building, room J7-55
Ticket information: Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.

Preliminary program 

09:30 – 10:00h             Registration and coffee in front of room J7-55

10:00 – 10:15h             Welcome and reflection on 15 Years of RGHI | Dr. Igna Bonfrer (Director Rotterdam Global Health Initiative)

10:15 – 10:45h             Lessons learnt on building an equitable and effective consortium | Dr. Zemzem Shigute Shuka (International Institute of Social Studies and Addis Ababa University)

As Principal Investigator, with one leg in the Global North and one in the Global South, Zemzem reflects on the development of an impressive consortium proposal titled “ROOTS1000”. This proposal has been submitted for an NWA call on the First 1000 days: Actionable Research on Maternal and Newborn Child Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

10:45 – 11:15h Co-designing ROOTS1000 Through the Lens of Kenya's Primary Health Care Experience | Dr. Alice Sipiyian Lakati (Amref International University)

Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Community Extension at Amref International University in Kenya, Alice Lakati, will share their work on strengthening primary health care that has fed into the ROOTS1000 proposal.

11:15 – 11:45h            Break and voting for RGHI Best Image Award

RGHI has invited early career researchers to share an image reflecting their global health work as an image often says more than a thousand words. Explore the submissions and vote for the best image. The winner will receive a 500 Euro prize to be spend on personal development.

11:45 – 12:15             Building equitable partnerships through education and research in Sierra Leone | Dr. Beata Reiber, MD PhD (Erasmus Medical Centre)

Oncologic gastrointestinal surgeon Beata has a passion for advancing clinical surgical care through education. She combines her clinical practice in the Global North with building standardized surgical skills training programs in the Global South, and pairing this with research on learning efficiency and contextual adaptation. Beata will share her experiences from this journey, offering insight into the mutual learning process, along with the opportunities and challenges it presents.

12:15 - 12:20h Announcing the RGHI Best Image Award winner

12:20 - 12:30h Looking ahead to 2030 | Dr. Igna Bonfrer (Director Rotterdam Global Health Initiative)

12:30 – 13:30h             Buffet lunch

We invite you to take this opportunity to network with others interested in global health and encourage you to also speak to people you have not interacted with before.