Kelly Fowler

Before earning a master’s in public health from Tufts University, Kelly completed one year of veterinary school and an undergraduate degree in animal science. She is currently a second-year medical student pursuing the Honors in Global Health track at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Fayetteville, AK. Her background lends her an understanding of the ways in which human, animal and environmental health are interconnected and informs her research. Kelly’s past research topics include rural healthcare delivery and podoconiosis instruction in sub-Saharan African medical and nursing schools. She is now studying the mental health impacts of snakebite envenomation in Rwanda through a gender lens. After completion of medical training, Kelly plans to serve patient populations in low-resource settings around the world and advance knowledge of neglected tropical diseases.

What does the Kean Fellowship mean to you?
The Kean Fellowship affords me the opportunity to gain real-world practical global health experience that I otherwise would not be able to access. The chance to travel to an international site, spend time in rural Rwandese communities and build relationships with fellow global health practitioners will advance my career in global health and allow me to build invaluable skills and relationships. I am so grateful and honored to receive this fellowship.

What do you anticipate learning?
By gaining hands-on real-world experience in global health research, I will build skills and relationships that will develop my career and hone my interests in global health. Working closely with partners in Rwanda will help me anticipate and overcome challenges specific to conducting research and practicing medicine in rural parts of the world. Further, I will have the chance to learn research methods, including navigating the Institutional Review Board approval process, conducting surveys, analyzing data, writing a manuscript and developing an effective intervention, directly from professional global health practitioners. This experience will also facilitate networking opportunities with global health researchers, clinicians and Rwandese leaders. Much of my time will be spent interacting with rural communities, which will broaden my awareness of other cultures. These new experiences will be instrumental in advancing my career as a global health researcher and physician..

What interests you about tropical medicine and what problems are you interested in solving?
Tropical medicine has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. While a Master’s in public health student, I was given the opportunity to assist with a research project involving Rwandese community health workers. That project exposed me to the substantial human suffering caused by tropical diseases, and the disproportionate impact they have on people in low-income countries. For the first time, I witnessed the immense challenges of delivering adequate medical care to many parts of the world, in addition to impressive strategies deployed to overcome those barriers. I ultimately decided to pursue a career as a physician to work closely with patients and positively impact healthcare in low-resource settings. I am particularly interested in identifying and addressing barriers to adequate prevention and treatment of neglected tropical diseases. Tropical medicine is an immensely challenging but rewarding field. I love that it allows one to work closely with communities to solve complex problems, all while serving people who need healthcare the most.