Evaluating a Research Training Program in Environmental Health and Noncommunicable Diseases in Georgia

Carla J. Berg (), Lela Sturua, Amiran Gamkrelidze, Tina Beruchashvili, Tinatin Manjavidze, Givi Javashvili, Nino Kiladze, Levan Baramidze and W. Michael Caudle
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Carla J. Berg: Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Lela Sturua: Noncommunicable Diseases Department, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia
Amiran Gamkrelidze: Department of Public Health and Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, University of Georgia, Tbilisi 0175, Georgia
Tina Beruchashvili: Department of Public Health and Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, University of Georgia, Tbilisi 0175, Georgia
Tinatin Manjavidze: Department of Public Health and Healthcare Management, School of Health Sciences, University of Georgia, Tbilisi 0175, Georgia
Givi Javashvili: International School of Public Health, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi 0177, Georgia
Nino Kiladze: Department of Hygiene, Medical Ecology and Health Promotion, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi 0177, Georgia
Levan Baramidze: International School of Public Health, Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi 0177, Georgia
W. Michael Caudle: Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: The Clean Air Research and Education (CARE) program, launched in 2020, aims to enhance environmental health (EH) and noncommunicable disease (NCD) research capacity in the Republic of Georgia. This paper evaluates the first 4.5 years of CARE, summarizing fellows’ activities and achievements to date and fellow and faculty reactions to CARE. In February 2025, CARE leadership anonymously surveyed fellows (100% response rate: n = 23/23; 4 Master’s of Public Health [MPH], 19 PhD) and faculty (66.7%: n = 10/15; 6 Georgia-based, 4 US-based). Thesis/dissertation topics included tobacco (43.5%), air pollution and respiratory outcomes (each 21.7%), lead exposure and cancer-related and cardiovascular outcomes (each 13.0%), and others. Fellows leveraged CARE’s financial support for research execution (78.3%), scientific conferences (34.8%), specific training (21.7%, n = 5/23), and/or publication fees (26.1%). Fellows indicated that the most valuable program aspects were opportunities for (1) building/expanding professional networks; (2) exposure to experts and training; and (3) instrumental support to pursue their PhD and conduct research. Fellows and faculty prioritized sustaining the following: structured mentor–mentee relationships; involvement of US-based mentors; support identifying research funding and preparing publications; and training in methods/data analysis. This study provides a model for evaluating other research training programs and highlights the important role such programs may play in developing the capacity to conduct relevant public health research in low- and middle-income countries.

Keywords: global health training; global health; mentorship; environmental health; noncommunicable diseases; low- and middle-income countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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