Faculty Spotlights >> Martha Ndung’u: Pharmacist, Educator, Citizen of the World
Understanding the Patient’s Perspective to Make a Difference
Pharmacy
A 40-year-old mother of three walks for nearly two hours to reach a clinic in the rural village of San Jose del Negrito, Honduras. She has been diagnosed with diabetes but has difficulty managing the disease. Her diet consists mainly of foods that are high on the glycemic index, such as fried plantain, tortillas and rice.
According to a World Health Organization study, the incidence of diabetes in Honduras has doubled in the last 25 years, with more than 1,720 deaths attributed to diabetes and high blood glucose in 2024.
Martha Ndung’u, assistant professor, School of Pharmacy, is passionate about changing that statistic. She works diligently to understand the cultural and social factors that influence diabetes management in Honduras and other underserved areas of the world.
Through the nonprofit organization Shoulder-to-Shoulder Pittsburgh-San Jose, Ndung’u visited the San Jose del Negrito clinic in March 2025. She spent two weeks sharing evidence-based practices in diabetes care and providing much-needed education, medicine and monitoring supplies. She also visits schools to teach local students about the importance of healthy lifestyle choices.
Back in Pittsburgh, she trains pharmacy students and other pharmacists who specialize in global health and encourages them to make the trip to Honduras themselves.
“Our work in Honduras is a great example of community engagement,” says Ndung’u. “This is a longitudinal project. We don’t like to start something we can’t finish.”
Every year, approximately 10 Pitt pharmacy students in the Global Health Area of Concentration visit the clinic in San Jose del Negrito. They work directly with patients, collecting data about medication access and assessing inventory management at the clinic.
“Experiences such as the one in Honduras provide students with skills and the experience to be empathetic, creative and culturally sensitive when trying to solve problems for people of all ages and in all circumstances.
They also gain experience developing research that is focused on addressing the health needs for vulnerable populations worldwide.”
What Was Ndung’u’s Inspiration?
“I was born and raised in Kenya to a family of nurses,” continues Ndung’u. “Health care is in my DNA. I was grateful to discover that Pitt’s School of Pharmacy embraces participation in global health initiatives and encourages pharmacists to make a difference to many different populations, both at home and abroad.”
“Experiences such as the one in Honduras provide students with skills and the experience to be empathetic, creative and culturally sensitive when trying to solve problems for people of all ages and in all circumstances,” notes Ndung’u. “They also gain experience developing research that is focused on addressing the health needs for vulnerable populations worldwide.”
Ndung’u is chair-elect for the Global Health Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. In her role, she will continue to ensure that every pharmacist and pharmacy student feels empowered to foster collaborative connections, advance global health training and share best practices for education, research and ethical engagement.
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