UGHE Celebrates Graduation of Its First Medical Class

Thirty health care leaders will graduate from the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda with medical degrees on Jan. 25, 2026, marking a historic moment for the university and the future of global health education.

This exceptional achievement commemorates the first graduation of UGHE's dual medical degree program, which combines the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) with the Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD)-a rigorous curriculum designed to train clinicians to deliver high-quality care while strengthening health systems.

Note: For those who would like to experience the graduation celebration but are unable to attend in-person, the ceremony will be livestreamed on Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. CAT.

The graduation is a moment Partners In Health (PIH) and its worldwide partners, including the Government of Rwanda, Cummings Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, have been looking forward to for more than a decade.

The late Dr. Paul Farmer, PIH's co-founder and former UGHE chancellor, had a bold vision of global health equity. He understood the sharp disparity in access to care across Africa, where the health workforce shoulders 24% of the global disease burden but represents only 3% of the world's health workers.

Aiming to help bridge this gap, PIH partnered with the Government of Rwanda in 2015 to launch UGHE, a pioneering university campus in rural Rwanda located near the Butaro District hospital, allowing students to live and work in close proximity to the community they are serving and designed to rethink how health professionals are trained.

The university welcomed its first MGHD students in 2015 and, four years later, celebrated another milestone when its first class of dual-degree medical students arrived on campus.

The 6.5-year medical degree curriculum was shaped by experts in research and clinical care with equity at the forefront. Conversations about health disparities and social determinants of health are woven throughout the program, alongside rigorous research, community engagement, and clinical rotations.

"UGHE was founded on the principle that all lives are of equal value," said UGHE Vice Chancellor Prof. Philip Cotton. "We have dedicated ourselves to training students to embody this principle by serving with equity, commitment, integrity, humility, and a spirit of accompaniment. On January 25th, students will graduate, joining the many others who have completed their studies over the past decade, a milestone we are proud to celebrate. We extend our gratitude to everyone who has supported this mission."

Paul taught the cohort of students graduating this year, joining them on their clinical rotations and working alongside them in hospitals and health centers, before he passed away on Feb. 21, 2022, in Butaro. This cohort is often referred to as "Paul's Class," reflecting his profound connection to these graduates.

Paul's deep commitment to treating patients with care, love, and dignity has been instilled in these students, many of whom continue to reflect on his teachings as foundational to their approach to medicine.

"I remember joining Dr. Paul Farmer on social ward rounds not to prescribe, but to listen and comfort patients. I grew to understand that medicine is more than a white coat; it requires being a diagnostician, leader, advocate, researcher, and social worker, depending on the situation," wrote MBBS-MGHD graduate Alima Uwimana.

Another inaugural MBBS-MGHD graduate, Joselyne Nzisabira, said Paul taught them how to advocate for patients with love.

As this first cohort of clinicians prepares to embark on their professional lives, they will take with them the values of patient-centered care and a shared responsibility to strengthen health systems. Each graduate has committed to working with underserved populations for five years as employees of Rwanda's Ministry of Health, a requirement of their education.

During their time at UGHE, students have explored long-held passions and discovered new ones-with interests spanning pediatrics, cardiothoracic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and more.

No matter which specialty each student pursues, they share a deep commitment to health equity and will carry forward the values of PIH and UGHE throughout their careers.

"(They) are pioneers, trailblazers who have set the foundation for future generations of medical professionals trained within UGHE," wrote Dr. Shivon Byamukama, UGHE's Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administrative and Financial Affairs. "(Their) commitment to excellence and service marks the beginning of a new chapter in the world's healthcare sector. We believe in (their) potential to transform lives, strengthen health systems, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of medicine in (their) respective countries and around the world."

The ceremony will be available to watch live online on Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. CAT.