Zachary Elwell, 2023 Nehal Shah Memorial Global Health Award
Recipient
Zachary Elwell discovered his interest in global health while studying Spanish as an undergraduate at Arizona State University. Seeking to combine his interests in healthcare and Spanish, he became involved in volunteer work in Central America, opening his eyes to the health disparities in some low- and middle-income countries. These experiences left a lasting impact, leading to a passion for global health that strengthened upon entering medical school.
As a medical student, Zachary partnered with the College of Medicine to launch its first national chapter of the Global Surgery Student Alliance (GSSA), providing his colleagues the opportunity to join a robust network of like-minded students actively engaging in the global surgery community. He has made significant contributions to the GSSA Equity Initiative and currently serves on the GSSA National Team. In addition, he recently joined the leadership team of the Global OHNS Initiative, a research collaborative dedicated to equitable access to high-quality, affordable otolaryngology care for all. Zachary plans to participate in global surgery in April 2023 in Kapsowar, Kenya, to care for others and "further strengthen his knowledge and cultural humility."