Three Graduate Institute students are working with healthcare access experts from Merck, themselves Graduate Institute alumni, on a project researching how supply and delivery issues are discussed in the global discourse around access to health. Anna Zampa (MA International Affairs), Suzi Gao (MA Development Studies) and Qiu Quan Kua (MA Development Studies) are collaborating with Merck’s Global Head of Access to Health, Frédérique Santerre and Senior Manager Natalie Mrak.

“Supply and delivery issues are neglected topics in the global health access discourse, but there is no background academic understanding or evidence-based research”, says Frédérique Santerre, who sits on the Graduate Institute alumni committee. “The Capstone is a great way to connect students with the future world in which they’ll be operating by letting them work on real-world projects, not just intellectual ones.”

“It’s very nice to have the chance to work on a project that is part of our studies, and yet very different from them”, says Anna Zampa. “Our challenge will be to develop research that is valuable, pragmatic and which will bring something new, while using what we’ve learnt from our academic experience.”

The project is being conducted under the supervision of Dr Claire Somerville, who supervised Natalie Mrak's own Capstone project 5 years ago.

Each year, Graduate Institute students participate in around 50 Capstone projects covering key global topics from gender equality and global health; migration and refugees; security, conflict and development to trade, finance and human rights.

LEARN MORE: Watch a short video with Frédérique, Natalie and Anna below, download our Capstone flyer, and find out how employers can get involved as partners.