Why We Do What We Do: Philip Morgan

From Africa to Asia, Philip Morgan, Physical Rehabilitation Program Manager at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has traveled the world with strong sense of humanitarianism, and desire to combat certain issues he has seen again and again related to global health. 

After joining the ICRC six years ago, Philip now works in low-income countries where he applies his expertise in both humanitarian efforts and in prosthetics and orthotics. He was recently named a facilitator for the Regional Senior Leadership Program Implemented by Yale GHLI and Management Sciences for Health through the USAID-funded Leadership, Management & Governance Project.  The Program provides senior decision makers with the skills they need to address health system challenges. Equipping these national teams to improve their respective country’s enabling environment for disability and physical rehabilitation services will enhance USAID and ICRC’s ongoing efforts to establish and improve accessible and appropriate prosthetic, orthotic, and physical rehabilitation services.

Philip facilitates the team from Sudan comprised of six senior leaders from government and non-profits, clinical and non-clinical, who focus on disability issues. “It is a challenge to get the team members together, due to their busy and varying schedules - but with support from Yale GHLI team members and MSH we are able to manage the team and develop solutions,” he explains. Philip finds it particularly interesting that despite participants’ various backgrounds, they have all been able to unite over a common commitment to the program.

“The response from the first session has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Philip. “I hope the students continue to pursue this work. Forging strong alliances across borders would help provide further support to each other’s programs, and certainly help develop policy with regards to disability issues within each country.”

Philip sees great opportunity for continued work in Sudan and hopes to support the work of the National Authority for Prosthetics and Orthotics (NAPO) and their plan to set up a school of prosthetics and orthotics within the country. With only 25 specialized clinicians to serve the needs of over 130,000 people in Sudan with physical disabilities, there is a great need – and Philip wants to help work towards a solution.