Global REACH Honors 2026 Awardees for Outstanding International Engagement

Expanding neurological care and services in Zambia. Developing surgical capacity in Rwanda. Bolstering genetics services in Nepal.

While the recipients of this year’s Awards for Outstanding International Engagement encompass three disciplines across as many countries, they share one thing in common: each has engaged partners and peers in their global health work in ways expand the impact.

Global REACH is proud to announce the winners of this year’s awards program: Assistant Professor of Neurology Melissa Elafros, MD, PhD; Surgery Resident Phillip Hsu, MD, PhD; and Kelly Beharry, a third-year U-M Medical School student. 

“Our global health community is anchored by the passion and dedication of individuals who remain deeply committed to this work—and to bringing others into it,” said Shane Quinonez, MD, Global REACH director. “I’m proud that we are able to celebrate these three deserving individuals, and proud to be part of an institution that recognizes their contributions.”

Quinonez, Louito Edje, MD, MHPS, Vice Dean for Medical Education, and others led an April 22 Global REACH Forum celebrating the honorees. Congratulations to them and to all of this year’s nominees. Read more about the awardees below.

Advancing global neurology through partnership and impact: Melissa Elafros, MD
Andrea and Lawrence A Wolfe Research Professor
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Faculty Awardee

Dr. Melissa Elafros has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to advancing global neurology through sustained partnership, community-centered research, and a deep focus on equity in care.

With longstanding collaborations in Zambia that span more than 15 years, Dr. Elafros embodies Michigan Medicine’s commitment to sustainable partnerships and longevity. Her research focuses on identifying and addressing barriers to neurologic care, a vital but overlooked area of medicine in much of the world. From her early work examining HIV-associated epilepsy and stigma to more recent studies on access to diagnostic testing and care for neurologic infections, her work has consistently taken a holistic approach to improving outcomes in resource-limited settings.

A defining feature of Dr. Elafros’ work is her commitment to equitable, locally driven collaboration. Rather than imposing external research agendas, she partners closely with Zambian colleagues to co-develop research questions and interventions grounded in community needs. This approach has led to impactful studies, including work addressing misconceptions around lumbar puncture and barriers to timely care for meningitis, as well as broader efforts to improve neurologic care in sub-Saharan Africa.

Her current work, the Zambia Cohort of Healthy Aging and Dementia (Z-CHAD) study, exemplifies this model. Developed in partnership with local clinicians, researchers, and community stakeholders, the study aims to better understand the burden of dementia and its risk factors in Zambia while building local capacity for diagnosis, care, and research. Through this work, Dr. Elafros has helped train community healthcare workers, support early-career investigators, and create sustainable pathways for ongoing neurologic research and care delivery.

“She has such an excellent understanding of how to organize and run research projects,” said Dr. Mataa Mataa, a neurologist and collaborator in Zambia. “And she has been so helpful bringing in people from her own network—not just from U-M, but in Zambia as well because she’s been engaged for so long and knows so many people.”

Dr. Elafros is equally recognized for her dedication to mentorship and capacity building. She intentionally pairs trainees from Michigan with Zambian colleagues, fostering reciprocal learning and ensuring that all participants contribute meaningfully to research and implementation efforts. Her trainees consistently return with a deeper understanding of global health challenges and a strengthened commitment to addressing health inequities.

Across all of her work, Dr. Elafros demonstrates a commitment to cultural humility, long-term partnership, and sustainable impact. Her ability to build and lead collaborative teams—both in Zambia and at Michigan—has helped expand opportunities for trainees and advanced the field of global neurology in meaningful and lasting ways.

“Everyone wants Melissa on their team and for good reason,” said Dawn Kleindorfer, MD, chair of the Department of Neurology. “Everyone knows that Melissa will positively contribute to their group and do so to the highest standards of integrity.”

Advancing global surgery through innovation and partnership: Phillip Hsu, MD
Surgery Resident
Resident/Fellow Awardee

During his time at Michigan Medicine, general surgery resident Dr. Phillip Hsu has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to advancing global surgery through innovation, collaboration, and a deep focus on sustainable impact.

Dr. Hsu is the first general surgery resident at the University of Michigan to dedicate his academic development time fully to global surgery. As such, he has since set a precedent for future trainees, demonstrating what is possible when global health is integrated intentionally into surgical training.

A recipient of the NIH Fogarty Global Health Fellowship, Dr. Hsu spent most of the 2025 academic year in Rwanda working alongside partners at the University of Global Health Equity and the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali. There, he led a national needs assessment and helped design and implement a train-the-trainer program aimed at improving the diagnosis, management, and referral of pediatric surgical conditions in district hospitals. This work culminated in the development of a needs-based pediatric surgical care course—now being considered for national adoption—and reflects his commitment to building locally driven, sustainable solutions.

“The project Dr Hsu has conducted this past year has shown great potential in equipping a larger number of general practitioners with much-needed skills in recognizing and managing pediatric surgical conditions and improve outcomes. Its potential has been recognized by the Ministry of Health, an impressive achievement that will help the project have a country-wide impact for years to come,” said Edmond Ntaganda, MD, Director of the Pediatric Surgery Fellowship Program at the University of Rwanda. 

Dr. Hsu has authored numerous manuscripts in global surgery and presented his work internationally, earning recognition including the Clinical Research Award from the Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons and the Resident Research Award from the Coller Surgical Society. His work spans initiatives such as ALL-SAFE, a laparoscopic training program for LMIC settings, and KidsOR, which focuses on developing operating rooms and pediatric surgeons, as well as research addressing disparities in pediatric surgical outcomes.

That he has done all of this as a resident is all the more the impressive. “As the first general surgery resident to commit his academic development time to global surgery, Dr. Hsu has had carve his own path and convince others of the value and veracity of his efforts. He has done that and more—truly exemplifying a drive to delivering equitable healthcare, a curiosity to change the current status quo, and commitment to a long-term career in global health,” said Robin Petroze, MD, Vice Chair for Global Surgery and Director of the Michigan Medicine Center for Global Surgery.

Advancing global health and building community: Kelly Beharry, M3
Student Awardee

During her time at UMMS, third-year medical student Kelly Beharry has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to advancing global health and addressing health inequities both locally and abroad.

Kelly has been actively engaged in global health since her first year at UMMS, primarily in Nepal, where she has had both clinical and research experiences at Dhulikhel Hospital,  where collaborators are partnering with Michigan Medicine to expand genetics testing and counseling services. Kelly has contributed to multiple abstracts, platform presentations, and needs assessment published in Genetics in Medicine Open. More recently, she expanded her global engagement through work in Colombia and is currently participating in the Center for Global Health Equity Fellowship in Global Health and Human Rights Research.

In addition to her individual accomplishments, Kelly has played a central role in strengthening the global health community at UMMS. She is a founding member of the Global REACH Student Advisory Board and has been a consistent and intentional leader in its work. Her contributions include establishing and leading pre-departure training sessions for fellow UMMS students headed abroad for global health experiences, supporting visiting international medical students and scholars who travel to Ann Arbor; and helping to plan and carry out events for Global REACH. Kelly has been a steady and collaborative presence across initiatives.

“Kelly is widely recognized not only for the depth of her work, but for the way she elevates those around her,” said Global REACH Administrative Director Alana Rodriguez, MPH, MA, who has worked with Kelly through both Global REACH and the U-M Center for Global Health Equity. “She brings a genuine warmth, empathy, and collaborative spirit to every space she enters, fostering connection and encouraging others to engage meaningfully in global health.”