Annual Program Summary
Expanding knowledge, improving health.
In 2024, we expanded the types of learning assets we delivered to communities worldwide to reach more learners with accessible tools. We produced vaccine education cards for caregivers as part of a larger immunization campaign in Mozambique, infographics to help mothers detect danger signs in pregnancy and for newborns in Africa, and a series of educational videos in Spanish and Indigenous Mayan languages — aimed at addressing hesitancy about HPV and childhood immunizations — that reached over 4.1 million people in Guatemala. We also continued to build our community health worker (CHW) training course library, which now includes common childhood illnesses, as well as other maternal and child health focused topics. Through our research, we further validated the critical role that CHWs play in our health systems and described how we can support them, as well as examining ways to improve learning during health emergencies.
Explore more highlights and our plans for addressing critical health needs next year in our 2024 Program Summary.
2024 Highlights
Explore our program summary to see all health education and research projects over the last year.
We joined VillageReach’s efforts in Mozambique and Malawi to promote routine childhood vaccination to caregivers.
Vaccine education cards
Our latest video in the Grow Great series gives guidance on how to support malnourished children through proper nutrition and care.
Rehabilitating malnourished children
To fight cervical cancer in Guatemala, we co-developed culturally appropriate educational materials addressing vaccine hesitancy.
Vaccination education videos
Our article in Frontiers in Public Health, published with CHIC and CHW advisors, explores how advocacy training must overcome systemic barriers and internalized norms.
CHW involvement in decision-making
Our article in JMIR Medical Education examined the motivations of health workers who used massive open online courses (MOOCS) for just-in-time training during public health emergencies.
Factors to consider in MOOC design
“Caring for Sick Children in the Community” offers refresher training on fever, HIV, TB, malnutrition, and other common drivers of preventable child mortality.
“Caring for Sick Children” courseNote from our leaders
We are excited to share this report, which highlights the progress and impact of the Stanford Center for Health Education’s Digital Medic program. Our goal is simple: to expand knowledge, improve health outcomes, and create a more equitable world. By harnessing the power of digital tools, we provide training resources that reach people wherever they are—whether in remote villages or urban centers—ensuring that critical health information is accessible to all.
At Digital Medic, we believe health education is a human right. Through collaboration, innovative learning design, and a relentless focus on community needs, we are expanding the reach and impact of health education to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities around the world.
We deeply appreciate the unwavering support of our collaborators and supporters in advancing these goals. Your commitment has allowed us to reach healthcare workers and community members globally, providing them with the essential digital tools and training needed to improve care delivery in their communities.
This year alone, we’ve reached millions with educational content on critical topics such as maternal health, immunization, childhood illness, and mental health. The growing demand for these resources underscores the importance of accessible, evidence-based health education in addressing urgent global health challenges. Together, we are ensuring health workers are not only prepared for everyday health needs but also equipped to respond to health emergencies—from pandemics to natural disasters.
However, we must acknowledge the increasing obstacles in global health. As the world becomes more interconnected, the challenges we face grow more complex. Health emergencies are escalating, fueled by misinformation and compounded by disparities in healthcare access, particularly in low-resource settings. The current political landscape has created further barriers to international collaboration and resource allocation, hindering efforts to address these critical health crises. While these challenges are difficult, they reinforce our commitment to finding effective solutions, innovating for change, and continuing to expand our reach. We remain steadfast in our commitment to areas like mental health education, which continues to be critically underserved despite the growing need.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, we remain focused on ensuring that frontline health workers receive the training, resources, and support they need to provide effective care. We are also committed to sharing our insights with global communities to make digital learning more impactful and accessible worldwide.
We are profoundly grateful for your continued partnership. Together, we will foster knowledge, reduce health disparities, and improve the well-being of communities everywhere.
With deep gratitude,
Charles and Aarti
