Partners 4 Health Meet and Greet Highlights Collaborative Spirit and Award-Winning Projects
On February 7, the Midwest D-CFAR and the Light Institute for Health and Transformation welcomed 25 early-career investigators, public health professionals, and community stakeholders to WashU’s Korede House for a vibrant morning of networking, dialogue, and recognition of outstanding projects from the recent Partners 4 Health open call.
The event provided an excellent opportunity for attendees to connect through discussions designed to foster collaboration and the exchange of ideas. The gathering featured a presentation that elaborated on the vision and goals of the Partners 4 Health initiative. Following this, three exemplary projects were celebrated for their innovation, feasibility, and community impact.
Germysha Little, Fithi Andom, and Tochukwu Patrick, awardees of the first Partners 4 Health open call.
First Place: Fithi Andom, PhD, LISW - Youth Photovoice: Promoting Immigrant Youth-Led Community Action for HIV Prevention in the Midwest
Andom’s initiative addresses the heightened HIV risk among second-generation Black immigrant youth. By engaging these individuals in a photovoice project, the initiative empowers them to document their experiences and identify factors contributing to sexual risk behaviors. Through community-based participatory research, participating youth will develop HIV prevention strategies, raise awareness, and collaborate with local stakeholders to implement sustainable health interventions.
Second Place: Tochukwu Patrick - The bEnd It Festival
This event aims to increase HIV testing, promote early diagnosis, and ensure seamless linkage to care, with an emphasis on community collaboration and non-governmental partnerships. The bEnd It Festival goes beyond being a celebratory event; it is a movement to make HIV testing routine, accessible, and stigma-free while connecting individuals to life-saving treatment and support services.
Third Place: Germysha Little, PhD - Beyond Medicine and Rooted in Partnerships
Little’s project unites academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and nonprofits to combat the HIV epidemic by expanding access to quality healthcare and promoting holistic well-being. Grounded in community engagement, the initiative challenges the notion of "hard-to-reach" populations, focusing on communities that are often overlooked and underserved. By meeting people where they are, the project aims to dismantle barriers to care, build trust, and implement sustainable, community-driven solutions for HIV prevention, treatment, and support.
All nine teams that participated received seed funding ranging from $500 to $1,000 to support their projects.
• First place winner: $1,000
• Second place winner: $800
• Third place winner: $700
• Remaining teams: $500 each
Following the awards ceremony, attendees were encouraged to continue their collaboration with Midwest D-CFAR and the Light Institute by engaging in upcoming grant-writing support opportunities. The event concluded with information about additional funding resources available through Midwest D-CFAR to further support their valuable work.
The Midwest D-CFAR and the Light Institute remain dedicated to supporting early-career investigators and advancing community-focused public health solutions. With plans to enhance mentorship programs, expand training and research workshops, and strengthen grant-writing resources, we will continue paving the way for future cohorts to drive meaningful change.
Attendees at the Partners 4 Health meet and greet gathering on February 7, 2025.
Written by Priscilla Agokey Kabutey, edited by April Houston