Dear Friends of Dr. Cindy Howard and the University of Minnesota Global Pediatrics Program,

I’m writing to inform you about an exciting opportunity to support the Global Pediatrics Program at the University of Minnesota.

The Program, founded by Dr. Howard and me in 2005, is now one of the leading residency programs in global child health in the United States. In 2024, Dr. Howard retired after almost forty years of service in global child health.

In a move that will surprise no one who knows her, Dr. Howard created an endowed fund to which she has made a significant estate commitment. This generous donation was made to the University of Minnesota Foundation to start the Dr. Cindy Howard Global Pediatrics Visiting Scholars Fund. The Fund will support our bidirectional exchange program; specifically, supporting visiting scholars from institutions in low- and middle-income countries that are educational partners of the University of Minnesota’s Global Pediatrics Program. 

As you know, there is now more need than ever for supporting global health. The Fund will allow the Global Pediatrics Program to maintain its role as a model of bilateral partnership that benefits both our trainees and colleagues in low- and middle-income countries, who have given generously of their time, expertise, knowledge and wisdom to training our pediatric residents.

As one visiting scholar shared from their experience: “The global pediatrics exchange program at the University of Minnesota has deepened my sense of responsibility. It has made me realize I am part of a legacy—accountable to the generations of pediatricians who came before me, whose knowledge and innovations paved the way. I am also accountable to those who will follow and to my patients, to carry their work forward and improve healthcare for everyone. Every day, I draw on key lessons from that experience, turning it into a catalyst for positive change.”

You can help more scholars like these and increase the impact of Dr Howard’s gift today by making a gift to the Dr. Cindy Howard Global Pediatrics Visiting Scholars Fund.

I am proud to support global child health education and to honor a mentor and colleague whom I respect beyond anything I can put into words. Thank you for joining us in this important work.

Sincerely,

Chandy John, MD, MS

Ryan White Endowed Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Indiana University and Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health

P.S. If you can’t give now, Give to the Max Day is just around the corner on Thursday, November 20 - and will be a great opportunity to join us and maximize your gift in honor of World Children’s Day. Stay tuned for more information, and thank you for supporting this important program.