Contributor: Christian DiGiacomo, WG’25
To learn more about Christian, click here.
Wharton Global Health Volunteers (WGHV) is a student-run organization that connects MBA students and opportunity-rich, resource-poor healthcare organizations in developing countries for semester-long, pro-bono consulting projects. The group’s goal is to not only enrich the educational and professional experiences of students, but also to advance healthcare equity internationally. With careful project and team selection, along with the support of the Healthcare Management (HCM) advisors, the organization is committed to applying expertise to address pressing challenges faced by healthcare organizations globally.
Last semester (Fall 2024), WGHV partnered with four client organizations across the globe to solve some of their most impactful business problems.
CMMB Peru – Enhancing Communications & Fundraising
A WGHV team partnered with CMMB Peru, an NGO providing essential healthcare to women and children, to strengthen its outreach and fundraising. Led by Nikki Perry (HCM WG’26) and David Nwokocha (WG’25), the team:
- Developed a social media strategy to amplify CMMB’s reach
- Crafted compelling messaging to attract and retain donors
- Built a framework for partnerships with foundations and supporters
The team spent a week on-site in Trujillo, engaging with staff and the community. Nikki shared, “This project allowed us to see the profound impact that CMMB has on its community while helping them tell their story more effectively to a global audience. It was an inspiring experience that underscored the power of collaboration in advancing health equity.”
Vignesh Chockalingam (WG'26), Nikki Perry (WG'26), Daniela Rodriguez (WG'26),
Jordan Harris (WG'25), Nawf Alzaid (WG'25), Claire Malkin (WG'26), David Nwokocha (WG'25)
Zoie Health – Market Expansion & Growth Strategy
WGHV worked with Zoie Health, a South Africa-based digital health startup, to explore regional expansion and refine its business model. Led by Rachel Macaulay (HCM WG’26) and Adwoa Boateng (WG’25), the team:
- Evaluated expansion opportunities in African markets
- Developed pricing and operational models, including projected doctor demand
- Proposed a framework for hospital partnerships and over-the-counter product expansion
The team completed data analysis remotely and spent the final phase on-site in Cape Town, collaborating with Zoie Health’s leadership to refine their growth strategy. Reflecting on the experience, Arjun Mohan (WG ’26) shared, “Zoie is on an incredibly inspiring mission to democratize high-quality healthcare on the African continent, and they are making promising progress towards it. It was a privilege to have the chance to contribute to their powerful journey.”
Adwoa Boateng, (WG'25); Rachel Macaulay, (WG'26), Blessing Edem (WG'26), Arjun Mohan (WG'26),
John Hwang (WG'26), Caroline Schumb (WG'26), Thato Schermer (Zoie Health CEO & Cofounder), Fabian Newton (Zoie Health COO & Cofounder)
Almouneer – Scaling Digital Diabetes Care
A WGHV team supported Almouneer, a Cairo-based HealthTech startup revolutionizing diabetes care, in its efforts to scale both domestically and in Saudi Arabia. Led by Christian DiGiacomo (HCM WG’25) and Talise Redmond (WG’25), the team:
- Conducted market research on HealthTech trends in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
- Prioritized growth strategies for Almouneer’s consumer app, Dru (Almouneer’s app)
- Created a roadmap for Saudi Arabia expansion and identified potential partners
The project culminated in a week of on-site strategy sessions in Cairo. Talise reflected, “Working with Almouneer was incredibly inspiring. Their passion motivated us to be fully invested in their journey.” Another team member, Viviane Garth (HCM WG ‘26), added, “Helping Dru prepare for expansion was a unique opportunity to contribute meaningful insights to a growing digital health company. With Dru’s team primarily focused on care delivery in eye care clinics, we were able to add significant value by helping them prioritize partnerships, develop a structured scorecard for evaluating opportunities, and outline key next steps for scaling their business.”
Mo Tantawi (Chief of Staff, Dru), Viviane Garth (WG'26), Angela Malinovitch (WG'26), Dr. Noha Khater (CEO and Co-Founder, Almouneer & Dru), Sarah Maguire (WG'25), Christian DiGiacomo (WG'25), Michiel van Zyl (WG'25), Talise Redmond (WG'25), Dr. Mishal Alotaibi (Advisor)
MedsGo – Strengthening Digital Pharmacy Services
WGHV partnered with MedsGo, a digital pharmacy in the Philippines, to refine its business strategy and support its mission of improving healthcare access in underserved areas. Led by Aurian Capart (WG’26), the team:
- Sharpened MedsGo’s value proposition and market positioning
- Conducted an opportunity sizing analysis for the Manila market
- Developed an expansion strategy to guide its growth
The team engaged in on-site visits and collaborative workshops to align MedsGo’s strategy with investor expectations. MedsGo’s CEO shared, “We were very lucky to do a project with Wharton Global Health Volunteers. These smart and wonderful individuals generously helped us review our strategy and develop a value proposition, all free of charge. Given our strong focus on operations, this kind of external perspective was incredibly valuable for us.”
Standing: Shelley Lau (WG‘25), Kevin Wesel (WG‘26), John Borchert (WG‘26), Aurian Capart (WG‘26),
Brooke Perisho (WG‘26). Sitting: Teresa Catabay (Head of Back Office), Alex Goryanov (CEO), Yulia Kachalina (COO)
WGHV relies on fundraising to help students travel to client sites like this every semester to conduct on-site research and work hand-in-hand with teams in person. If you are interested in donating funds to make initiatives like these possible for students during the 2024-2025 academic year, please follow instructions below:
Instructions to donate by check:
Make check payable to “WGA” with “Wharton Global Health Volunteers” in the reference/memo field. Please note that it is imperative to ensure that your accounts payable department writes the check exactly in this manner or else it risks being applied to a different Wharton student club.
- Please mail checks to the following P.O. Box:
Wharton Graduate Association – Wharton Global Health Volunteers
P.O. Box 13387
Philadelphia, PA 19104
To Pay by Wire or ACH:
Please send payments directly to the Wharton Graduate Association’s TD Bank account and include “Wharton Global Health Volunteers” and “226” in the reference area:
- Our corporate name is Wharton Graduate Association
- Our checking account# is 4420249347
- Our routing# for wire transfers is 031101266; for ACH is 036001808
- SWIFT code is NRTHUS33XXX
- Our branch address is:
TD Bank
3735 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 387-1000
Contact Christian DiGiacomo at: [email protected]