Pfizer Reaffirms Leadership in International Corporate Volunteerism by Deploying the Largest Round of Global Health Fellows
Pfizer Partners With 17 Nonprofit Organizations Sending 28 Fellows to Help Address Systemic Health Care Challenges in the Developing World
(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Pfizer Inc today announced the eighth class of Global Health Fellows, a group of 28 Pfizer colleagues from North America, Europe and Asia, who will partner with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and multilateral organizations (MLOs) in developing countries to help build health care infrastructure while on dedicated 4-6 month assignments.
The Pfizer Global Health Fellows program is one of the first public-private partnerships of its type and is entering its fifth year. Pfizer is among few major corporations with a strong commitment to skills-based international volunteerism and has been leading a drive, along with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Brookings Institution, to help engage new companies in the arena.
“The program provides our partners with the use of our company’s most valuable asset, the skills and expertise of our employees,” explained Pfizer Chairman and CEO Jeff Kindler. “Pfizer Global Health Fellows are able to help address critical needs of the underserved while learning from our on-the-ground partners to better anticipate and drive a positive, long-term impact on global health.”
From 2003 to 2007 the program deployed 127 Pfizer colleagues whose work represented more than 120,000 hours of dedicated skills-based support to help meet local health needs in developing countries. The current class of Fellows will continue the tradition and apply their skills in science, pharmacology and laboratory management and business planning to train researchers and health care providers, develop best practices, implement information technology resources and upgrade facilities and financial infrastructure. Pfizer colleagues from 22 countries and Puerto Rico have participated in the program.
Robert Mallett, Senior Vice President at Pfizer and President of the Pfizer Foundation noted, “Our Fellows not only provide value for society-at-large, but also gain global perspectives, new ideas and skill sets which ultimately inform business innovation – one of Pfizer’s core values.”
Round 8 Fellows will work in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, South America and Europe supporting 17 unique NGOs and multilateral organizations.
Round 8 NGO Partners:
| Family Health International | International AIDS Society | |
| U.S. Agency for International Development | Angkor Hospital for Children/Health Volunteers Overseas | |
| Columbia University Access Project | Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India/American Jewish World Service | |
| International AIDS Vaccine Initiative | Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE/Health Volunteers Overseas | |
| Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS | African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer/American Cancer Society | |
| IntraHealth International | Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS – Global Business Coalition | |
| The Dominican Association of the Order of Malta/Project HOPE | Pan-American Health Organization | |
| International Trachoma Initiative | Makerere Medical School, Dept. of Pharmacy/Health Volunteers Overseas | |
| The Mothers’ Programmes |
Pfizer, Brookings and FSG Social Impact Advisors recently released a study called “Volunteering for Impact: Best Practices in International Corporate Volunteering” which highlights several major trends in how and why companies are choosing to invest in the arena.
David Caprara, Director of Brookings’ Initiative on International Volunteering and Service stated: “Skills-based international corporate volunteering is a critical component to addressing the developing countries’ most critical challenges. No one sector can overcome the current obstacles to development alone, but through innovative partnerships, like the Pfizer Global Health Fellows program, global volunteering can leverage assets to effect measurable outcomes alleviating suffering and disease.”
“Our partnership with Pfizer is illustrative of a win-win situation for corporations, government and health care service providers alike,” said Mary Jordan, senior technical adviser for Public-Private Partnerships at the U.S. Agency for International Development. “By loaning its employees’ hard-to-procure skills to PEPFAR grantees, Pfizer helps them to overcome significant challenges to service expansion. We have many examples of this, including the mothers2mothers programmes which are now expanding HIV-AIDS services to seven sub-Saharan African countries, in part due to the financial management Fellows receive from Pfizer.”
Global Health Fellows are selected for specific positions through a competitive process, in part for their desire to make a difference in the world, their strengths in teaching and training, and their enthusiasm to see their work carried on by local teams. Pfizer has committed to fund transportation, lodging and other expenses for the Fellows, while maintaining their position within the company.
For more information on the Pfizer Global Health Fellows program go to: www.pfizerphilanthropy.com
The complete study “Volunteering for Impact” can be found online at: www.brookings.edu/global/volunteer and www.Pfizer.com/responsibility/global_health_fellows.jsp
Pfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world
Pfizer is not just in the business of making medicines; we want to positively impact the health of people around the world. Our philanthropy is focused on investing the full scope of the company’s resources – people, skills, expertise and funding – to broaden access to medicines and strengthen health care delivery for underserved people around the world. Our philanthropy platform,Pfizer Investments in Health, offers a coordinated approach to contribute to society beyond medicines:
Treat: Improving access to medicines and health care services
Teach: Increasing patient education and health care worker training on disease prevention and treatment options
Build: Strengthening the capacity of health care organizations to support prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care
Serve: Advocating and sharing best practices to improve health care for the underserved
Through direct engagement and collaboration with local NGOs, MLOs, governments and private sector partners, we strive to implement sustainable programs and impact global health outcomes.
Founded in 1849, Pfizer is the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company taking new approaches to better health. We discover, develop, manufacture and deliver quality, safe and effective prescription medicines to treat and help prevent disease for both people and animals. We also partner with health care providers, governments and local communities around the world to expand access to our medicines and to provide better quality health care and health system support. At Pfizer, nearly 90,000 colleagues in more than 150 countries work every day to help people stay happier and healthier longer and to reduce the human and economic burden of disease worldwide.
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Chris Loder, 212-733-7897