Seed Global Health Communications with the Peace Corps: A FOIA Release Summary

March 15, 2024

In 2019, documents were released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to The Black Vault, shedding light on communications between Seed Global Health and the Peace Corps. Seed Global Health, initially known as the Global Health Service Corps, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening health education and delivery in places with dire shortages of healthcare professionals.

The documents reveal extensive interactions between Seed Global Health and the Peace Corps, particularly regarding the Global Health Service Partnership (GHSP) program. This initiative aimed to send U.S. doctors, nurses, and midwives to serve as faculty in training schools in countries facing severe healthcare professional shortages, such as Uganda, Tanzania, and Malawi.

Key areas highlighted in the records include:

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Staffing Changes: The documents detail staffing transitions within the Peace Corps Response team managing the GHSP, including the departure of Julie Marshall, a recruiter who had been with the Peace Corps for nine years and with the GHSP since its inception.
Program Management: Correspondence discusses the management of the GHSP program, including the recruitment, placement, and support of volunteers, as well as collaboration with Ministries of Health and Education in partner countries.
Challenges and Successes: The records touch on the challenges faced by GHSP volunteers, such as adapting to clinical decision-making in resource-poor settings and language barriers. They also highlight successes, including the positive impact of volunteers on training at partner sites.
Event Participation: The documents mention preparations for participation in events like the Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) Conference, indicating the program’s efforts to engage with the broader global health community.
Personal Experiences: Some communications provide insights into the personal experiences of GHSP volunteers, including their challenges, achievements, and reflections on their service.

Overall, the FOIA-released documents offer a glimpse into the collaborative efforts between Seed Global Health and the Peace Corps to address global health challenges through the GHSP program.