Deborah Wafer
The Global Health Fellows program represents a new approach by Pfizer to corporate philanthropy. The program pairs highly skilled Pfizer colleagues with NGOs for up to six months to fight ravaging diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in developing countries. The Global Health Fellows model was presented to the United Nations Global Compact in December 2003 as an innovative way to tackle devastating health problems internationally.

[align=justify]Deborah Wafer, a Pfizer Inc. employee has secured a company Global Fellowship that’s landed her in Uganda to contribute to the fight against AIDS-related illnesses.
The company recently announced the second class of Global Health Fellows, a group of 15 physicians, scientists and other skilled Pfizer colleagues from around the world who are being loaned to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to help address health issues in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Through the Global Health Fellows program, Wafer, Product Manager for Marketing at Pfizer in New York City will be loaned to the American Jewish World Service, an independent, not-for-profit organization based in New York that helps to alleviate poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the world regardless of race, religion or nationality.
Ms. Wafer has lived and worked in Mbale, Uganda, since October 6 and will stay there for three months. She will work on a social marketing campaign for American Jewish World Service to reduce stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and train members of the community on providing care. A life-long resident of Compton, Ms. Wafer will draw upon her experience as a nurse practitioner at UCLA Medical Center and Clinical AIDS Research Center, as well as the Los Angeles County HIV Prevention Unit, prior to her employment at Pfizer and her move to New York last year.
"With my experience over the past 12 years as a physician's assistant and nurse practitioner in HIV, being chosen as a Global Health Fellow gives me the opportunity to bring my skills abroad," said Deborah Wafer. "As Pfizer employees, we are extremely privileged to have the global resources and reach that can make a real difference in the world."
The Global Health Fellows program represents a new approach by Pfizer to corporate philanthropy. The program pairs highly skilled Pfizer colleagues with NGOs for up to six months to fight ravaging diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in developing countries. The Global Health Fellows model was presented to the United Nations Global Compact in December 2003 as an innovative way to tackle devastating health problems internationally.
"Because Pfizer recognizes the skills of its colleagues and the lasting impact their work can have on communities in need around the world, Pfizer is pleased to begin the second round of the Global Health Fellows program," said Hank McKinnell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer Inc. "This program exemplifies how companies can go beyond traditional philanthropy programs to confront societal challenges by sending colleagues to communities where they can make contributions on so many levels."
The Fellows will work with NGOs including African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), American Jewish World Service, Family Health International, Project HOPE, Academic Alliance Foundation, Health Volunteers Overseas, International Trachoma Initiative, and Baragwanath Hospital. They will fill vital roles to help evaluate the economic burden of HIV/AIDS, build advocacy and communication campaigns around treatment and HIV/AIDS, and strengthen clinical care in HIV/AIDS.
Global Health Fellows are selected 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.[/align]
[align=justify]For more information on the Pfizer Global Health Fellows program go to www.pfizerphilanthropy.com[/align]