Panzi Hospital (http://www.panzihospital.org) was originally founded in 1999 by Dr. Denis Mukwege as a specialty hospital for women with severe gynecological problems and for survivors of sexual violence. As a result of the extraordinary care provided by Dr. Mukwege and his staff, community based outreach programs began to evolve, which fell outside the clinical care mandate of Panzi Hopsital. Pan
zi Foundation DRC was therefore established in 2008 for the administration and management of the various projects addressing needs that went beyond direct clinical care. The foundation believes in the equal rights of women, men, boys and girls. To achieve its vision, the foundation works to support and assist victims of gender-based violence and their dependents; fight against sexual violence; support the actions of the Panzi Hospital; increase access to health care; and promote and protect the rights of women. The four original statutes of Panzi Foundation DRC were to establish: 1) Mason Dorcas, a transit and resource center for survivors of sexual violence; 2) Clinique Juridique, a judicial clinic to support women trying to navigate the legal system; 3) City of Joy, a leadership training program to empower women to mobilize their communities and fight for change; 4) and a research center, to train local project leaders and researchers on the collection and use of data for evidenced-based decision making for policies, programs, and clinical care. Today, three of these four institutions have been established (Maison Dorcas, Clinique Jouridique and City of Joy). In 2010, Dr. Denis Mukwege received an award at the University of Michigan for his work caring for survivors of sexual violence and for those suffering from severe gynecological problems. The University of Michigan has a long history of research, and is regularly ranked as one of the top research universities in the world. During Dr. Mukwege’s visit to the University of Michigan, and subsequent site visits to Bukavu by the University of Michigan faculty, the decision was reached to collaborate on the establishment of a research center. In order for such an initiative to be successful, however, a local university with a strong mandate for research must also be a key partner. The Evangelical University in Africa (UEA): http://www.uea-ac.cd was started in 1991. Under the leadership and guidance of the current Chancellor, Professor Gustave Mushagalusa, UEA has grown to include a Faculty of Medicine, Economics, Theology and Agriculture. A new building for the Faculty of Medicine was built in 2011 with capacity of over 800 students and located within walking distance of Panzi hospital. Students from UEA train at Panzi hospital and assist with research being conducted by UEA professors and academics from other local and international universities. A large number of junior faculty members at UEA are physicians at Panzi Hospital as well. A primary goal of UEA is to improve research capacity and to provide its students with more hands on research training. With the mandates of both Panzi Foundation DRC and UEA being to strengthen research capacity, it was decided that the research center would be a joint initiative between these two organizations. The University of Michigan will serve in an advisory and technical support role, working closely with these two organizations to establish the research center, but ensuring ownership and governance as the responsibility of Panzi Foundation DRC and UEA.
