High-Impact Growth

Co-hosts, Jonathan Jackson and Amie Vaccaro are joined by Jeroo Billimoria, a remarkable serial social entrepreneur. Starting at age 12, Jeroo has founded several impactful organizations, including Child and Youth Finance International, Aflatoun, Childline India Foundation and Catalyst 2030. In this candid conversation we learn about her journey and discuss: Solving for root cause problems Creating impactful outcomes through co-creation and collaboration Building collective ownership and trust Letting go of ego and planning for organizational transition Managing the relational and management aspects of scaling an organization and a movement The art of listening How to stay optimistic The journey of Catalyst 2030 in creating a social innovation sector Advocacy and changing funder mindsets Increasing representation from the Global South Resources: Join Catalyzing Change Week May 6-10, 2024: http://catalyst2030.info/RegisterCCW Catalyst 2030: https://catalyst2030.net/ Jeroo Billimoria on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeroo_Billimoria Sign up to our newsletter⁠, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends.  Hosts: ⁠Jonathan Jackson⁠ and ⁠Amie Vaccaro

Glasswing International is a NGO with a remarkable journey, having impacted more than 2.2 million lives through their education and health initiatives throughout Latin America and New York City. Co-founder and President Celina de Sola shares her insights on the organization's evolution and growth to 600 employees, and their community-driven approach that led to the organization's non-clinical model for mental health care. The podcast explores scalability, sustainability, and the role of technology and data in highlighting growth as well as the gaps, to enable organizations to achieve greater impact.

In this insightful podcast episode, we feature guests Andrea Fletcher, Chief Digital Strategy Officer, and Remy DeCausemaker, Open Source Lead at the Digital Service at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), discussing the critical role of digital technology in shaping healthcare strategies within the U.S. government. The discussion delves into the intersections of technology, healthcare, and government strategies, emphasizing the significance of open source collaboration, addressing challenges, and preparing for the future of healthcare systems. Hear fresh perspectives on AI, privacy-enhancing technologies, and the importance of AI transparency in policies.

In part 2 of this series on Artificial Intelligence, Jonathan Jackson and Brian DeRenzi, Dimagi’s Research and Data team lead, openly talk about the rapid evolution of AI, its vast potential, and what Dimagi has been up to over the last few months since winning the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges grant to build a frontline worker coaching chatbot. In this candid conversation, they discuss the value of collaboration, the ethical and philosophical considerations of AI as a tool to empower, rather than replace human services, the looming threat of inequitable dystopia and ways that we are partnering with other organizations to ensure that the benefits of this new technology are spread equitably.

Our co-hosts are joined by thirteen-time #1 bestselling co-author and pioneer in Category Design, Chris Lochead, to discuss Category Design, and how it's relevant for NGOs and social impact organizations. He delves into the fundamentals while offering insights on how to shift from the current competitive state to a new, transformative future. This episode is brimming with compelling story examples such as the women's labor movement and its powerful tagline of “equal pay for equal work”. He also shares a personal anecdote about a home-based climate change response in Santa Cruz, where he employed out-of-the-box thinking to get multiple stakeholders to buy-in for a bigger change. If you are a NGO or social impact organization engaged in breakthrough work, then this episode is for you.   Topics include:  Why Category Design matters for NGOs and social impact organizations Reframing problems in a way that captures attention and makes people feel invested in your cause How to think beyond the present to envision a different future  The importance of language and framing for creating category buy-in Manifestos that bring to life the different future an organization aims to create Warning: This podcast contains explicit language and unfiltered conversations – listener discretion is advised.

STOP TB has an ambitious objective driving the RTC initiative: ending global tuberculosis epidemic by 2030. In this episode, we talk about the innovative efforts taken by STOP TB's Reimagining TB Care initiative, addressing the intricate challenges of combating tuberculosis through comprehensive 360-degree, people-centered approach.  Our guest speaker,  Jackie Huh from Stop TB, will share insights on her initiative "Reminagining TB Care" and discuss the importance of putting people at the center of technology innovations. Within this context, we explore the core objectives of RTC, gaining valuable insight into the notable advancements achieved thus far, obstacles faced &  strategies RTC employs to overcome these challenges, all while keeping their focus on what matters most – the people.  Exploring the world of healthcare driven by technology, our conversation also features Kelly Collins of SureAdhere who has brilliantly recognized the potential of technology while keeping the essence of people-centered care, with SureAdhere’s VDOT. We will explore how Kelly's endeavors seamlessly align with the evolving landscape of global healthcare, particularly in TB.  Moreover, we'll discuss the possibilities of collaboration among organizers, governments, and providers, all converging with a shared vision.

Co-hosts Jonathan Jackson and Amie Vaccaro are joined by MHP Salud’s CEO, Dr. Maggie Dante and Data and Evaluation Analyst, Rachel Udow. MHP Salud is championing Community Health Workers across the US both within their organization and through training and consulting on how to best integrate CHW programs. Over the last decade, MHP Salud has been on a digital transformation journey - leveraging technology to improve service delivery. The conversation unpacks many of the best practices the organization has developed to leverage digital to deliver impact at scale. Topics discussed:How MHP Salud has used one technology platform to deepen and improve impact over timeMHP Salud’s digitization journey, including expanding use cases of CommCare across programsHow the organization has developed the human capacity and processes to support a long term Impact Delivery approachThe role of user-centered design and training in successful technology implementation.The significance of buy-in from CHWs and creating a culture of validationThe integration of technology, including CommCare and Tableau, to improve efficiency and save costsInsights on strategic thinking, recruitment challenges, and long-term sustainability in community health programsRelated Resources: Learn more about MHP Salud: ⁠https://mhpsalud.co/about⁠ Access MHP Salud resources and social media: https://bit.ly/m/mhpsalud  CHW Core Consensus Project: https://www.c3project.org/ Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook⁠⁠, Youtube⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends.  Hosts: Jonathan Jackson and Amie Vaccaro⁠

Social impact organizations and governments worldwide are under immense pressure to do more with less. We are confronting an array of complex, constantly-evolving pressures ranging from economic uncertainty, humanitarian crises, inflation, pandemics, and climate change. All of this means we need to deliver more services to more people. And, we often need to do it with flat or decreasing levels of funding.  Digital solutions have the potential to help us do more with less, to create more value for every dollar invested.  But most digital transformations either fail outright, or fail to create this sustained value. In today’s episode, Jonathan Jackson and Amie Vaccaro explore a new approach called Impact Delivery designed to address the challenges we are facing in global health in development and the ways technology can and must step up to better deliver on its potential in creating a world where everyone has access to the services they need to thrive.  Topics discussed: How technology is failing global health and development Why a new approach is needed The three pillars of Impact Delivery: Better Impact, More Impact and Sustained Impact Tangible examples of what each pillar looks like in practice What this approach means for social impact organizations and governments

Dr. Dixon Chibanda started Friendship Bench after losing a patient to suicide who could not afford to travel to the hospital in Zimbabwe where he worked. There had to be a way to make mental health care more accessible. Today, Friendship Bench has a team of grandmothers across Zimbabwe who are trained to deliver evidence-based high-impact therapy on park benches, making mental health support readily available. In this episode, Jonathan Jackson learns about the incredible journey of  the Friendship Bench intervention in conversation with its Founder and CEO, Dr. Dixon Chibanda. Get a behind the scenes look at how this incredible program and intervention has achieved resonance and scale by offering community-based psychological interventions to people in need. You’ll learn how Friendship Bench has trained grandmothers to deliver high-impact therapy, discover the tremendous healing power of storytelling and vulnerability, explore the role CommCare plays in enabling digital data collection and analysis, and dig into the three-part formula for creating a scaled intervention that applies beyond mental health. This episode is a great listen for anyone wanting to learn about the foundational role of digitization in enabling programs to scale and inform data-driven decision-making.  Topics include:  How the Friendship Bench intervention started  Leading randomized controlled trials (RCT) to provide evidence for the effectiveness of the Friendship Bench intervention Scaling up the Friendship Bench to reach 100,000 people last year Engaging government stakeholders and building referral pathways for long-term sustainability Focusing on improving overall health outcomes, not just mental health The power of effective storytelling and vulnerability The role digitization plays in scaling and sustaining the program Partnering with Dimagi and using CommCare to become fully digital The importance of addressing mental health at the community level Related Resources: Friendship Bench: https://www.friendshipbenchzimbabwe.org TedTalk - Why I train grandmothers to treat depression | Dixon Chibanda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cprp_EjVtwA  Disclaimer: The audio quality in certain parts of this episode has been compromised, but we trust you are still able to share in this rich conversation. We apologise for any inconvenience. Sign up to our newsletter⁠, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends.  Hosts: ⁠Jonathan Jackson⁠ and ⁠Amie Vaccaro

Discover the key ingredients to Ethiopia's incredible progress in digital health as Ali Flaming and Amie Vaccaro speak with Dr. Girma Tadesse, electronic Community Health Information System (eCHIS)  Project Manager with JSI. Stemming from a clear vision for improving health outcomes and data use, the Ethiopian government has been on a digital health transformation journey starting in 1991. As Project Manager for this effort, Dr. Girma shares Ethiopia’s journey moving towards a fully paperless system. You’ll hear how with government ownership and strategic resource allocation, they're establishing a strong foundation for long-term success, while also investing in the people and skills needed to create meaningful change. This is a must-listen for anyone working in and with governments and Ministries of Health wanting to learn how to leverage technology to support higher quality services. Ethiopia has been leading the charge of enabling healthcare workers by building scalable platforms and ecosystems for sustained impact and this conversation provides an inside look at how.  Topics include:  The impact of a clear government vision focused on improving health outcomes and service delivery  Exploring a data-driven approach to inform improvements and achieve universal health coverage The importance of government ownership and buy-in  The need for clear communication of goals and resource allocation Investment in talent and expertise through university programs Moving beyond digitizing paper processes to creating real impact in healthcare delivery Utilizing digital platforms for multiple use cases and digitizing various health services Building scalable platforms and ecosystems for sustained impact Embracing an iterative approach to digital health transformation Related Resources:  JSI: ⁠https://www.jsi.com  ⁠ Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: ⁠https://www.gatesfoundation.org⁠  USAID: ⁠https://www.usaid.gov⁠  Children’s’ Investment Fund Foundation: ⁠https://ciff.org⁠  Superset: ⁠https://superset.apache.org⁠  CommCare: ⁠https://www.dimagi.com/commcare/⁠  Simprints Technology: ⁠https://www.simprints.com⁠  USAID Digital Health Activity - Ethiopia: ⁠https://www.dimagi.com/blog/jsi-government-of-ethiopia-and-usaid-digital-health-activity/ ⁠ Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work: ⁠⁠https://sites.dimagi.com/newsletter-sign-up⁠⁠⁠  We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi:  LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagi⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/dimagi/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/dimagi.inc/⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8JcRhWywkVJRR_YWv4OhA⁠⁠⁠  If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends.  Hosts:  Jonathan Jackson: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanljackson/⁠⁠⁠ Amie Vaccaro: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amievaccaro/

Rediscover the power of community health workers (CHWs) and their critical role in delivering healthcare globally in this captivating conversation with Jonathan Jackson and Dr. Madeleine Ballard, CEO of the Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC). Despite concrete evidence that CHWs work, millions are not salaried, skilled, supervised and supplied. The WHO recommends remunerating CHWs for their work but 86% of CHWs in Africa are not salaried. And worldwide, CHWs face essential medicine stock-outs 1/3 of the time. CHIC is a coalition of thousands of CHWs and aligned health organizations in 40+ countries who are making professional CHWs (proCHWs) the norm by changing guidelines, funding, and policy. In this episode, Dr. Ballard delivers actionable insights and inspiring ideas for creating sustainable change in global health. You’ll also hear about the countries leading the way, why this matters so much, and what it all means for technologists and funders who want to create a world where everyone has access to the services they need to thrive. The episode confronts listeners with a strong call to action to join the movement for proCHWs and ensure health for all. Topics included:  How technology can enable and support community health workers as well as connect and amplify movements Bridging the gap between policy and implementation in global healthcare Why we must support and unleash the intelligence of CHWs before focusing on AI algorithms How all technology companies must be intentional about using technology to avoid harm and extraction in healthcare Exploring the key role of strong political will and the importance of listening to CHWs, 70% of whom are women Why proper financing is crucial for implementing salaried CHW programs Related Resources: CHIC proCHW Policy Dashboard: https://joinchic.org/resources/prochw-policy-dashboard/ Championing a Movement to Pay and Professionalize Community Health Workers with Margaret Odera: https://sites.dimagi.com/high-impact-growth-podcast/professionalizing-chws  Payment of Community Health Workers: https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/langlo/PIIS2214-109X(22)00311-4.pdf  Equity and AI in Global Health: Exploring Large Language Models, Building Chatbots and Embracing Discomfort: https://sites.dimagi.com/high-impact-growth-podcast/equity-through-ai  Community Health Impact Coalition (CHIC): https://joinchic.org  Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work: :⁠⁠https://sites.dimagi.com/newsletter-sign-up⁠⁠⁠ We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagi⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/dimagi/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/dimagi.inc/⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8JcRhWywkVJRR_YWv4OhA⁠⁠⁠  If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends. Hosts: Jonathan Jackson: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanljackson/⁠⁠⁠Amie Vaccaro: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amievaccaro/

Testing out a new format for this podcast - short form responses to questions from you, our audience. Plus video! In this Your Questions Answered episode, we break down a recent learning that Jonathan Jackson shared on LinkedIn regarding working with governments on digital health programs: “I used to think the goal with digital health programs as a technology partner was to get too big to fail.  I’ve learned a lot however in the last 20 years. Now I know: the only path to success is to be too valuable to fail.” We discuss taking an Impact Delivery approach for digital, and answer the following audience questions:  Can you kindly provide specific instances where you have consistently provided benefits to your users, clients, and communities? Understanding how you have avoided becoming stagnant and maintained the growth of your program would be highly beneficial. How do you suggest measuring and assessing the value-added for users, clients, and communities? Related Resources  Burkina Faso case study by Dimagi: https://www.dimagi.com/case-studies/mhealth-tdh-burkinafaso/ Burkina Faso case study by Exemplars in Global Health (shows savings driven by digital health): https://www.exemplars.health/emerging-topics/epidemic-preparedness-and-response/digital-health-tools/commcare-in-burkina-faso Ethiopia project overview: https://www.dimagi.com/blog/jsi-government-of-ethiopia-and-usaid-digital-health-activity/Jonathan’s original LinkedIn post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7082470123483066368?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_feedUpdate%3A%28V2%2Curn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7082470123483066368%29 Related Podcast episode: Prioritizing Platforms Over Projects with Danny Roberts: https://sites.dimagi.com/high-impact-growth-podcast/prioritizing-platforms-over-projects Related Podcast episode: A New Era for Development with Raj Kumar of Devex: Shifting from a Project Mindset to an Investment Mindset: https://sites.dimagi.com/high-impact-growth-podcast/kumar-devex Related Podcast episode: Building Resilience: The Key to Combating Burnout in Frontline Workers with Lilianna Bagnoli: https://sites.dimagi.com/high-impact-growth-podcast/resilience-building WellMe free trial (resilience building application for Frontline Workers):  https://sites.dimagi.com/wellme-trial Sign up to our newsletter⁠, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: ⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, ⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends.  Hosts: ⁠Jonathan Jackson⁠ and ⁠Amie Vaccaro

Depression alone is projected to be the third leading cause of disease burden in lower and middle income countries by 2030, where 75% of people don't receive any treatment. In this episode we delve into the escalating global issue of mental health care. Jonathan Jackson speaks with three of Dimagi’s experts: senior health strategy specialist Lauren Magoun, senior project analyst Anaba Sunday Atua, and senior mental health strategy consultant Christie Civetta. Gain insights from the team’s diverse experience and learnings in project analysis and the implementation of mental health initiatives, as well as approaches to combating the barriers to mental health care delivery and the grave lack of funding. You’ll walk away from this episode with a clear understanding of the role of Frontline Workers in providing intervention, the need for human connection in digital solutions, and the positive impact of integrating mental health care into broader health strategies. This episode challenges funders, implementers, and technologists working in the mental health space to consider the intersection between mental and physical health in developing solutions that create lasting impact and achieve holistic health outcomes. Topics include:  The opportunities and future possibilities for mental health care innovation The potential of digital solutions to break down barriers and deliver impactful, scalable and cost-effective programs The realities of mental health stigma and care in low-and middle-income countries  The advantages of community-based interventions and the role of trusted members in addressing stigma The importance of human connection in mental health care delivery  The intersection of physical and mental health with a focus on anxiety and depression Related Resources: Bending the curve: the impact of integrating mental health services on HIV and TB outcomes - United for Global Mental Health: https://unitedgmh.org/knowledge-hub/bending-the-curve-the-impact-of-integrating-mental-health-services-on-hiv-and-tb-outcomes/ Poor countries are developing a new paradigm of mental health care. America is taking note: https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23402638/mental-health-psychiatrist-shortage-community-care-africa Basic Needs Ghana (Anaba’s former employer): https://basicneedsghana.org/ Reimagining global mental health care with a person-centered, digitally-enabled approach with Dr. Vikram Patel co-founder of Sangath and successor to Paul Farmer at Harvard Medical School: https://sites.dimagi.com/high-impact-growth-podcast/reimagining-mental-health  Connect with us: Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work :⁠⁠⁠https://sites.dimagi.com/newsletter-sign-up⁠⁠⁠  We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagi⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/dimagi/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/dimagi.inc/⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8JcRhWywkVJRR_YWv4OhA⁠⁠⁠  If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends. Hosts: Jonathan Jackson: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanljackson/⁠⁠⁠ Amie Vaccaro: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amievaccaro/ ⁠⁠

In this episode, we discuss technology's impactful role in making services accessible, specifically in the treatment of Tuberculosis (TB). Listen as Chris Buri, a TB survivor and patient advocate, shares his experience with TB treatment and the importance of patient support and advocacy in TB care. You’ll also hear about his personal journey  of resilience and advocacy, the challenges and opportunities presented by TB treatment, and the potential of technology such as VDOT (Video Directly Observed Therapy) to improve patient outcomes. This is a great listen for those wanting to learn more about the impact of TB on patients and their families, the need for person-centered care, and the important call to action for more research and funding in TB treatment and advocacy. Topics discussed:  An introduction to Chris Buri, a TB survivor and patient advocate Chris's experience with TB treatment, including challenges with medication side effects and treatment adherence The importance of patient support and advocacy in TB treatment The role of support groups in providing emotional and practical support to TB patients The impact of TB on patients and their families, including social stigma and financial burden The need for patient-centered care in TB treatment, with a focus on patient empowerment and engagement The potential of technology to improve TB treatment adherence and patient outcomes The challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in TB treatment The need for more research and funding in TB treatment and advocacy Chris's call to action for healthcare providers, policymakers, and the public to prioritize TB treatment and support Related Resources SureAdhere: https://www.sureadhere.com  CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): https://www.cdc.gov  Colorado Department of Public Health: https://cdphe.colorado.gov  Denver Health:https://www.phidenverhealth.org  We are TB: https://www.wearetb.com  Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work :⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.dimagi.com/newsletter-sign-up⁠⁠⁠⁠  We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagi⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/dimagi/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/dimagi.inc/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8JcRhWywkVJRR_YWv4OhA⁠⁠⁠⁠  If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends. Hosts: Jonathan Jackson: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanljackson/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amie Vaccaro: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amievaccaro/ ⁠⁠⁠

In this episode we chat to renowned epidemiologist, healthcare innovator, and educator Dr. Richard Garfein and social entrepreneur and infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. Kelly Collins, as they share their journey of turning an idea from research in academia into a successful commercial enterprise. They discuss their experiences in starting SureAdhere, licensing the software from UCSD, and signing up health departments to use the technology. You’ll also hear about their work in using Video Directly Observed therapy (VDOT) to transform tuberculosis (TB) treatment, and how they expanded their company's reach to cover diseases from hepatitis C to opioid use disorder. The episode highlights the importance of following evidence-based decision-making and empowering patients and healthcare workers alike by leveraging technology, innovation, and passion. Topics include: The development of Video Directly Observed Therapy (VDOT) technology The role of DOT and VDOT in healthcare interventions Telemedicine during COVID-19 and beyond Digital technology to support medication assisted treatment and opioid use disorder-The importance of evidence-based decision-making in developing and testing technology The decision to start a company to scale VDOT technology and make it more widely available The challenges of licensing the software from UCSD and signing up health departments to use the technology The impact of VDOT on improving patient experiences and healthcare provider efficiency. Lessons learned from the experience of starting and growing SureAdhere The decision to join forces with Dimagi Related Resources: SureAdhere: https://www.sureadhere.com / The Stop TB Partnership: https://www.stoptb.org  The UK National Health Service: https://www.nhs.uk  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov   Verizon Foundation: https://www.verizon.com/about/responsibility/grant-requirements Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work :⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sites.dimagi.com/newsletter-sign-up⁠⁠⁠⁠  We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagi⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/dimagi/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/dimagi.inc/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8JcRhWywkVJRR_YWv4OhA⁠⁠⁠⁠  If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends. Hosts: Jonathan Jackson: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanljackson/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Amie Vaccaro: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amievaccaro/ ⁠⁠⁠

“There is no health without mental health.” - Dr. Vikram Patel Dr. Vikram Patel is a psychiatrist, professor, renowned researcher, co-founder of Sangath, in India, and the incoming chair of Harvard Medical School Department of Global Health and Social Medicine where he takes over for the late Dr. Paul Farmer. Through decades of field-defining research, Dr Patel has shown how community-based resources can meet a growing burden of mental illness globally. In this episode, we explore Dr. Patel’s journey from training as a psychiatrist in London to working in Zimbabwe and co-founding Sangath - an award-winning Indian NGO, committed to improving mental health care across the globe. This episode is a must-listen for those wanting to learn about strategies for scaling mental health care that extend beyond the traditional healthcare system and understanding how technology can help to improve the quality of psychological and social interventions. Topics include:  The importance of supporting Community Health Workers and Frontline Workers to treat mental illness and address the crisis of human resources in healthcare and mental health The integral difference between mental health and mental illness  The critical need for integration of mental health support into universal health coverage The connection and influence of mental health on other chronic diseases  The role of the ‘accompaniment model’ in mental health care Understanding how non-specialist providers can deliver the ‘active ingredient’ in mental health intervention for two thirds of mental illness The failings, future and possible fixes for the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM) in psychiatry   Introducing a stepped care approach in addressing individual’s mental health needs  The importance of human connection in mental health treatment The need to shift from a diagnostic model to a person-centered approach  Exploring measurement based peer supervision in mental health treatment programs  The top 3 ways to leverage digital to augment humans in mental health care, not replace them Related resources: Grand Challenges Canada funded project to scale up peer supervision for delivery of psychological treatments - Collaboration between GMH@Harvard's Project EMPOWER, Dimagi, Sangath and the University of Toronto https://globalhealth.harvard.edu/empower-gcc-project-pilot/ How Digital Solutions Can Help Scale Mental Health Care https://www.dimagi.com/blog/digital-solutions-scale-mental-health-care/ Dr. Vikram Patel profile and research: https://ghsm.hms.harvard.edu/faculty-staff/vikram-patel Learn about Dr. Patel’s new role as Chair of of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School:  https://hms.harvard.edu/news/patel-named-new-chair-global-health-social-medicine Connect with us: Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work :⁠⁠⁠https://sites.dimagi.com/newsletter-sign-up⁠⁠⁠  We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagi⁠⁠⁠ Twitter:⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/dimagi/⁠⁠⁠ Facebook:⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/dimagi.inc/⁠⁠⁠ Youtube:⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8JcRhWywkVJRR_YWv4OhA⁠⁠⁠  If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends. Hosts: Jonathan Jackson: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanljackson/⁠⁠⁠ Amie Vaccaro: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amievaccaro/ ⁠⁠

Dimagi’s CommCare platform has been shaped by its users since its inception. Today, we revisit some of the first Community Health Workers who helped design and test CommCare back in 2008 in Tanzania. Co-host Amie Vaccaro speaks with two people who led that early research –  Gayo Mhila, who has recently interviewed 5 of the earliest users, and Dr. Brian DeRenzi, Dimagi's Global Director of Research. Through the conversation you’ll learn how technology can enable CHW’s to provide vital support to their communities, and how CHW input helped shape essential functionality of CommCare marking the genesis of Dimagi’s Design Under the Mango Tree approach.  Topics include:  Insights from 5 of the earliest users of CommCare - how they got into community health work and their experience with CommCare How CHW feedback led to the creation of logins, referrals, supervisor applications, case management and more foundational functionality in CommCare How switching from paper to digital helped tackle stigma, earn trust and improve efficiency for CHWs  How technology can support and bolster relationships (not replace them) The journey to creating value for users at different levels of a health system with digital How digitizing community health work can support expanded digital literacy for women and why it matters Training techniques for technology adoption The importance of user-driven design or as Dimagi’s calls it “Design Under the Mango Tree”  Related Resources: CommCare: https://www.dimagi.com/commcare/  Design Under the Mango Tree: https://www.dimagi.com/blog/20-years-of-designing-under-the-mango-tree/ High-Impact Growth podcast Ep 10: Solving Hard Problems, Designing Under the Mango Tree, and Taking a Product Approach: Lessons Learned from the Making of CommCare featuring Dr. Brian DeRenzi, Clayton Sims, Cory Zue and Dr. Neal Lesh: https://sites.dimagi.com/high-impact-growth-podcast/making-commcare

In this episode  we explore the journey of Margaret Odera, a Community Health Worker and mentor mother in Kenya. Following her HIV diagnosis, Margaret received life-changing support from a mentor mother, which inspired her to dedicate her life to helping other HIV-positive mothers and their newborns. As the founder of the Community Health Workers Champions Network (CHWCN), Margaret is also leading the charge to professionalize and amplify the voices of these unsung heroes in the health sector. We discuss the role of Community Health Workers in disease prevention and health promotion; the need for better tools, technology, and training, and the steps Margaret is taking toward professionalizing Community Health Worker roles to ensure fair compensation,  improved working conditions, and preparedness for future pandemics. Topics discussed:  What a typical week looks like for Margaret The realities of community health workers - their working conditions and the lack of compensation  The unfortunate status of payment for Community Health Workers in Kenya  How lack of payment for Community Health Workers reflects a gender issue How Margaret came to found the Community Health Workers Champions Network (CHWCN) and early wins Challenges faced in professionalizing Community Health Workers The role of technology in professionalizing community health workers The need for better Community Health Worker representation and visibility at various levels of health governance The role of Community Health Workers in preventing future pandemics The support needed from health systems at large to train, support, and equip Community Health Workers Related Resources: Margaret Odera, Heroine of Health: https://www.intrahealth.org/vital/community-health-worker-advocate-and-now-heroine-health Women in Global Health profile of Margaret Odera: https://womeningh.org/our_members/margaret-odera/Video by IntraHealth of Margaret Odera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nZAEwz2BUU Contribute to support the CHW Champions Network: https://www.mchanga.africa/fundraiser/70491 Community Health Impact Coalition: https://joinchic.org/ Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work :https://sites.dimagi.com/newsletter-sign-up  We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagi  Twitter:https://twitter.com/dimagi/  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/dimagi.inc/  Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8JcRhWywkVJRR_YWv4OhA  Please subscribe and follow this podcast so you never miss an episode. If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends. Hosts: Jonathan Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanljackson/ Amie Vaccaro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amievaccaro/

In a world where stress is inevitable, burnout is rife, and the global mental health burden is growing, it's crucial to develop the skill of resilience to recover, adapt, and grow from stress. This episode highlights how building resilience can guard against burnout, a workplace phenomenon that affects many Frontline Workers, resulting in feelings of fatigue, detachment, and a reduction in professional efficacy. Jonathan Jackson sits down with Lilianna Bagnoli to dig into Dimagi’s work on resilience-building through the launch of the WellMe application - a user-friendly tool focussed on equipping Frontline Workers with resilience-building behaviors, that can be used across geographies, languages, and Frontline Worker cadres. You’ll also hear about the ways in which we can scale access to mental health support for individuals and Frontline Workers, how technology can support this, and what this means for technologists, implementers, and funders working in global health. Other topics discussed:  Why resilience-building is important amongst Frontline Workers  The growing mental health crisis & four interventions that can help deliver mental health support at scale  Leaning into collaborative approaches to deal with stress on all levels amongst essential and non-essential staff  An introduction to Dimagi’s WellMe application & the feedback received from the user testing phase The importance of adapting messages and language from user testing to appeal to specific contexts and demographics  The need for organizations to incorporate resilience-building into professional development efforts  The effects of bolstering mental health on the results of treatments for other health issues Related Resources: The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development: https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(18)31612-X.pdf  WellMe: https://sites.dimagi.com/wellme-trial  Grand Challenges Canada funded project to scale up peer supervision for delivery of psychological treatments: https://globalhealth.harvard.edu/empower-gcc-project-pilot Promoting effective mental healthcare through peer supervision: https://sangath.in/peers/  How Digital Solutions Can Help Scale Mental Health Care: https://www.dimagi.com/blog/digital-solutions-scale-mental-health-care/  WellMe: https://www.dimagi.com/blog/introducing-wellme-the-resilience-app-for-frontline-workers/  What We Learned from our Working Group on Health Worker Wellbeing: https://www.dimagi.com/blog/what-we-learned-from-our-working-group-on-health-worker-wellbeing/  Equipping Health Workers to Recover, Adapt and Grow https://chwi.jnj.com/resilience  A Toolkit to Protect Against Burnout on the Front Lines: https://chwi.jnj.com/about/global-interventions/the-resilience-collaborative/resources  Resilience Message Program: Evidence-based, free, and adaptable messages to increase health worker resilience: https://chwi.jnj.com/about/global-interventions/the-resilience-collaborative/resources  When there is no word for resilience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdcT6gSh-xY  Making Resilience Resonate: https://sites.dimagi.com/guidebook-resilience-message-program Leveraging Advanced Analytics to Develop Engagement Profiles of a Digital Resilience Message Programme and Inform Scale Efforts: https://www.dimagi.com/blog/johnson-johnson-foundation-leveraging-advanced-analytics-to-develop-engagement-profiles/  CommCare Companion Application:https://www.dimagi.com/blog/johnson-and-johnson-foundation-commcare-companion-application/  Digital health solutions need to consider the health worker: https://www.devex.com/news/sponsored/opinion-digital-health-solutions-need-to-consider-the-health-worker-102333 

Jonathan Jackson sits down with Brian DeRenzi, Dimagi’s Research and Data team lead, to discuss Dimagi’s work exploring large language models to create chatbots for global health and development use cases. They discuss how we might leverage AI to advance equity despite the reality that it can also decrease equity,  while recognizing the irreplaceable value of human-to-human connection in healthcare. We also discuss the potential of ChatGPT to support more accessible SMS workflows, how voice to text can support non-literate populations, and how to embrace the discomfort of this moment in a way that propels us towards creating positive impact. Topics include: Exploring large language models and GPT-4 for Chatbots in Global Health and Development Building tools to support and elevate equity in AI AI's Impact on Productivity Potential Hype and Pitfalls of AI Measuring utility, accuracy, safety, and purpose adherence in chatbots  The importance and opportunity in using LLMs with SMS and Voice-to-Text for non-literate populations Leveraging AI in a way that elevates and supports human effort instead of replacing it Related Resources: GatesNotes, The Age of AI has begun: https://www.gatesnotes.com/The-Age-of-AI-Has-Begun  Palantir, Bending Artificial Intelligence to our collective will: https://www.palantir.com/newsroom/letters/our-new-platform/ Comparing Physician and Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Responses to Patient Questions Posted to a Public Social Media Forum: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2804309 Sign up to our newsletter, and stay informed of Dimagi’s work :⁠⁠https://sites.dimagi.com/newsletter-sign-up⁠⁠  We are on social media - follow us for the latest from Dimagi: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/dimagi⁠⁠  Twitter:⁠⁠https://twitter.com/dimagi/⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/dimagi.inc/⁠⁠  Youtube:⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt8JcRhWywkVJRR_YWv4OhA⁠⁠  If you enjoy this show, please leave us a 5-Star Review and share your favorite episodes with friends. Hosts: Jonathan Jackson: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanljackson/⁠⁠ Amie Vaccaro: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/amievaccaro/ ⁠