(Press-News.org) PHILADELPHIA (February 17, 2026) – Penn Nursing is proud to announce Diane Dodge, Executive Director of Tiba Foundation, as the recipient of the 2026 Penn Nursing Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women’s Health. Dodge will be formally recognized on April 13, 2026, at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perry World House, where she will receive a $100,000 unrestricted grant to further her transformative work in women’s health care access and economic empowerment.
“We are proud to honor Diane Dodge for her visionary leadership,” said Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing. “Her work to break down women’s health care barriers in rural Kenya through turning transportation into a driver of maternal health and economic agency is inspired—and it perfectly embodies the Renfield Award’s mission to champion community-led, transformative solutions. Diane’s efforts reimagine what is possible to improve the lives and well-being of women and girls globally, and that is what Penn Nursing is all about.”
“I am deeply honored to receive the Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women’s Health and to partner with Penn Nursing. I am so grateful for the opportunity to amplify transportation as an often-overlooked barrier to women’s health, especially in rural communities,” said Dodge. “I am proud to celebrate the Boda Girls—the first women in their villages to learn to drive, advocate for health, and provide free rides to the hospital. They ensure that women give birth in hospitals and can access cancer care. Their success inspires me!”
Transforming Maternal Health Through Innovation
The Renfield Foundation Award is presented biennially to global leaders whose work has made a significant and measurable impact on the health of women and girls. Dodge was selected for her visionary leadership in addressing the "hidden" social determinants of health—specifically the lack of safe, affordable transportation in rural communities.
As a co-founder of the Boda Girls program in Kenya, Dodge helped pioneer a culturally grounded solution that trains women as professional motorcycle taxi drivers and health advocates. This initiative has fundamentally shifted how rural health care is delivered by:
Improving Clinical Outcomes: Facilitating a 67% increase in hospital births and a 110% increase in maternal clinic attendance during its pilot phase.
Breaking Gender Norms: Integrating women into the male-dominated motorcycle taxi industry, where they now earn up to eight times their previous daily income.
Expanding Awareness: Gaining international recognition, with features in DW News, Africa News, and The New York Times, for highlighting transport as a critical determinant of health.
A Legacy of Impactful Leadership
With over 25 years of experience, Dodge’s career is defined by building sustainable, community-driven initiatives. Beyond Boda Girls, she has:
Developed the Nursing Promise Pathway, creating a career pipeline for rural girls into the nursing profession.
Co-founded the LREB Cervical & Breast Cancer Collaborative, mobilizing public health leaders across 14 Kenyan counties to improve screening and HPV vaccination rates.
Previously scaled the Oakland Promise initiative for all students to access college or career support.
Future Outlook: Scaling Global Solutions
The $100,000 Renfield Award will support Tiba Foundation’s efforts to scale the Boda Girls model to ten counties and forty hospitals over the next five years, with an ambitious goal of providing one million health services. This expansion will also pilot the use of electric motorcycles, merging women's health advocacy with climate health initiatives.
"Diane Dodge’s leadership at Tiba Foundation proves how community-driven innovation transforms women's lives. Through initiatives like Boda Girls, she has successfully bridged the gap between maternal health care and economic opportunity in rural Kenya,” said Monique Howard, EdD, MPH, Executive Director of Penn Nursing’s Center for Global Women’s Health. “Her work is a masterclass in combining compassion with strategic action. I congratulate Diane on her tireless efforts and look forward to her insights on improving global health outcomes for birthing people."
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About the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing
The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing) is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice, and the top National Institutes of Health (NIH)–funded nursing research institution in the United States. Ranked the #1 nursing school in the country by QS University for the past decade, Penn Nursing consistently earns top national rankings from U.S. News & World Report for its BSN and graduate programs. By integrating innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practice, Penn Nursing prepares nurse scientists, clinicians, and leaders to meet the complex health needs of a global society. Follow Penn Nursing: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram.
About the Renfield Award
The Penn Nursing Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women's Health was established in 2012 by the Beatrice Renfield Foundation. This award is presented biennially to a leader, or leaders, in the field of global women's health. The goals of the Award include raising awareness of global women's health issues, supporting multi-disciplinary approaches to addressing global women's health issues, and rewarding innovative strategies designed to deal with pressing issues for women. The Beatrice Renfield Foundation is led by Jean Renfield-Miller, PAR'15. The Foundation is named after Jean's sister, who devoted years of service and resources as an advocate for the nursing profession. Past winners include: Hilaria Supa Huamán, Director of Mosoq Pakari Sumaq Kawsay (New Dawn for Good Living) Healing Center, Peru (2024); Gabriela Meléndez-Peláez, Founder of Asociación Corazón del Agua, Guatemala; (2022); Daron G. Ferris, MD, Founder of CerviCusco, Peru (2020); Vandana Gopikumar, PhD, Co-Founder of The Banyan, India (2018); Denis Mukwege, MD, Founder of the Panzi Hospital and Panzi Foundation, Democratic Republic of Congo (2016); and Edna Adan Ismail, Founder and Administrator of the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital, Somaliland (2014).
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