The Caribbean Public Health Agency, Georgetown University announce agreement to strengthen Caribbean health systems
WASHINGTON (March 19, 2026) — The Caribbean Public Health Agency and Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Practice and Impact announced a new bidirectional collaboration to strengthen health systems research, innovation and public health capacity across the Caribbean.
The collaboration establishes a framework for joint action in health systems and implementation science research tailored to the unique contexts and needs of CARPHA Member States. The agreement also promotes knowledge exchange and collaboration between academia and public health practice, including health and non-health stakeholders.
Key opportunities from the agreement include:
- Enhanced reach and efficiency: Strengthening workforce development through coordinated resource sharing, tailored training, mentorship and technical assistance. This will build competencies in epidemiology, data use, clinical care, evaluation, research and evidence-to-policy translation.
- Innovation for effectiveness: Advancing integrated care models that address both communicable and noncommunicable diseases to improve primary care delivery and chronic disease management.
- Shared learning: Leveraging expertise and experiences to design, test and scale evidence-based interventions that support sustainable, context-appropriate solutions.
Dr. Lisa Indar, executive director of CARPHA, said the collaboration brings distinct benefits to the agency and its member states.
“Specifically in the areas of surveillance, emergency response and workforce development, while simultaneously bringing the asset of the strong academic and analytical capabilities of Georgetown University in applied global health practice, education, and research,” Indar said.
Dr. Deus Bazira, director of CGHPI, says the collaboration represents a transformative moment in Caribbean public health.
“This collaboration marks a new chapter in doing global health work differently – one that is genuinely bidirectional, rooted in Caribbean priorities, and built on the principle that the most powerful health innovations emerge when institutions combine their strengths in service of shared goals.”
CARPHA and CGHPI will collaborate on impact assessments, developing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to assess the effectiveness of health interventions and inform future strategies.
Dr. Horace Cox, director of the Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA, said, “This collaboration embodies a commitment to advancing evidence-based public health approaches, by bridging operational gaps between academia and public health practice, for the benefit of all CARPHA Member States”.
The agreement also supports innovations in health care delivery, including co-development of new care models and technology integration such as telemedicine and mobile health applications. It encourages public-private partnerships to maximize resources and expertise.
This agreement reflects CARPHA’s mandate to provide strategic leadership and technical excellence in public health across the Caribbean and Georgetown University’s commitment to advancing global health through research, education, and implementation science.
Photos from the MOU Signing Ceremony
Photo Caption: Representatives from CGHPI (L-R) Kemisha Denny, Care Continuity Specialist, Dr Jennifer Hayes-Klosteridis, Vice President for Health Sciences Strategic Management & Operations, Dr. Norman Beauchamp, Executive Vice President for Health Services & Dean of the School of Medicine and Dr. Babatunji Oni, Senior Programme Director, witness signing with CARPHA.
Photo Caption: (L-R) Dr. Mark Sami, CARPHA Director of Corporate Services witnesses Dr. Lisa Indar, CARPHA Executive Director at the signing of the Georgetown-CARPHA new agreement.