Twenty-Year Partnership Transforms Lives Through Service, Learning, and Global Health

When a team of Albany Med Health System employees, physicians, alumni, and supporters sets out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro this fall, they will be celebrating more than a fundraising milestone. They will be honoring 20 years of partnership between Albany Med and Engeye, a nonprofit organization that empowers communities in rural Uganda through health care, education, and economic opportunity.

The climb is the centerpiece of Engeye’s “Climb for Good” campaign, which supports the organization's mission to improve health, expand educational opportunities, and strengthen community well-being in and around Ddegeya Village in Uganda. The Albany Med Health System is serving as a Platinum Sponsor of the campaign, providing support for a critical clean water initiative and other programs that help Engeye create lasting change in the communities it serves.

For Albany Med, the fundraiser is also a celebration of a relationship that began at Albany Medical College and has grown into one of the institution’s most enduring global partnerships.

Engeye was born from a vision shared by the late Stephanie VanDyke, MD ’09, an Albany Medical College student whose passion for improving access to health care in rural Uganda helped bring the organization to life. Faculty mentors, students, and staff joined that effort, including Theresa Weinman, a 36-year Albany Medical College employee who has remained deeply involved with the organization since its earliest days.

Over the last two decades, what began as a grassroots volunteer effort has evolved into a locally led organization that supports health care, educational opportunities, and economic development programs in rural Uganda. Today, more than 18,000 patients receive care annually through the Engeye Health Clinic.

“The relationship between our organizations includes a founding story, a training pipeline, and a shared investment in rural Ugandan health,” Weinman said.

More than 100 members of the Albany Med community, including faculty, residents, staff, students, and alumni, have volunteered with Engeye, with many returning multiple times.

Improving Health Beyond the Clinic

While the health clinic remains central to Engeye’s work, the organization takes a broader approach to improving community well-being. In addition to providing primary and inpatient care, maternity services, laboratory testing, pharmacy services, and home visits, Engeye supports educational scholarships, distributes school supplies to local children, and operates artisan programs that help women generate income for their families. That approach closely aligns with Albany Med’s commitment to improving health, addressing disparities, investing in education, and supporting communities.

One of Engeye’s most urgent priorities today is expanding access to clean water. Families in the community rely on a shared borehole that has become increasingly strained by demand. When access is limited, some residents must turn to unsafe water sources, increasing the risk of preventable illness.

Albany Med’s sponsorship includes $20,000 to support a new protected water source that will provide reliable access to clean water for community members. The project also includes handwashing stations, sanitation education, and long-term sustainability measures. Albany Med has additionally funded 100 solar-powered lights for families without reliable access to electricity.

Learning from One Another

The Albany Med-Engeye partnership is a two-way exchange of knowledge and experience. Physicians and residents who volunteer at Engeye sharpen their clinical reasoning in a resource-limited environment while learning from Ugandan clinicians whose expertise and understanding of community health challenges are invaluable.

“The most common feedback we hear from our volunteer physicians is how much they love ‘just caring for patients,’” Weinman said. “Without insurance restrictions or access to high-tech testing, they are challenged to rely on their clinical judgment, history-taking, and physical examination skills. They rediscover the doctor-patient connection that drew them to medicine in the first place.”

For Weinman, the greatest value of the partnership is the collaborative learning that takes place between the American and Ugandan teams.

“For me, the most meaningful part of this work has been connecting U.S.-based physicians with the incredible Ugandan staff at Engeye,” she said. “Knowledge and experience are shared in both directions. I believe this is the best model for global health.”

Climbing for Good

After a year of fundraising and outreach efforts, the “Climb for Good” campaign will conclude in October with a Mount Kilimanjaro expedition in Tanzania and related activities supporting Engeye’s work. Joining Weinman in representing Albany Med are Bryan Dworsky, MD; Peter Forman, MD; Matt Murnane, MD; Ruth Morgan, MD; Brooke Lamparello, MD; Chris Diamantopoulos from Albany Medical Center’s Community Development; and Jill Spadaro from Albany Medical Center’s Communications & Marketing Office. Members of the group are participating in different ways, from climbing and traveling to Tanzania to fundraising and advocacy efforts closer to home, all in support of Engeye’s mission.

The trip originally included a visit to Ddegeya, where participants planned to stay at Engeye’s volunteer housing, meet clinic staff and community members, visit local schools, and see projects funded through the campaign, including the new community borehole. Those plans were canceled because of the recent Ebola outbreak affecting parts of Uganda and neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, but the campaign’s goals remain unchanged: supporting the people, programs, and partnerships that have made Engeye a trusted resource for thousands of families.

Another lasting symbol of the partnership is Albany Med Mukwano House, the volunteer residence that has hosted generations of Albany Med visitors to Ddegeya. Named in honor of Albany Med, it represents the first donor naming designation in Engeye’s history. Mukwano means “friend” in Luganda, reflecting the friendship and collaboration that have defined the relationship for two decades. While this year’s team will not be able to visit Ddegeya as originally planned, the designation serves as a lasting reminder of the countless Albany Med volunteers who have lived, learned, and worked alongside the Engeye community over the past 20 years.

A Shared Commitment

As Engeye marks its 20th anniversary, Weinman sees the partnership as proof of the impact long-term collaboration can have on communities around the world.

“One of the moments I am most proud of is building a team that includes an Albany Med graduate from 30 years ago, another from 10 years ago, and a current resident,” she said. “They begin the trip as strangers, but the instant institutional bond they share as Albany Med alumni creates a sense of connection and teamwork that strengthens the entire experience.”

Twenty years after the first Albany Med volunteers helped launch Engeye, the partnership continues to improve lives through health care, education, and community development. It remains a powerful example of how meaningful partnerships can create lasting impact across communities and continents.