When Bernard Abeiku Mensah, MN, RN, a second-year PhD student at the Yale School of Nursing (YSN), saw how many families in Ghana struggled to access dialysis care, he decided to take action. Drawing on his background in nursing and health systems leadership, he founded the NephroHaven Foundation, an initiative working to make dialysis treatment more affordable, reliable, and accessible across Ghana and, eventually, other low- and middle-income countries.
NephroHaven’s model is both practical and innovative: community-based solar-hybrid dialysis hubs that combine sustainable energy sources with tiered financing and local partnerships to reduce costs and increase reliability. Each hub also offers on-site mental health support, monthly kidney screenings, and health education sessions to promote early detection and self-care.
“Dialysis shouldn’t be a privilege,” Mensah said. “We’re building a model that makes lifesaving treatment accessible to everyone, no matter where they live.”
Mensah and his team, which includes another YSN PhD student, Samuel Akyirem, will present their solution at NurseHack4Health, a global nurse-led innovation competition organized by Johnson & Johnson, SONSIEL, and Microsoft, on November 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The competition challenges interdisciplinary teams to develop creative responses to urgent health needs.
By integrating clinical insight, community collaboration, and sustainability, Mensah’s work exemplifies the kind of impact nurse-led innovation can have—both locally and globally. His story highlights how YSN students are using their research and creativity to drive meaningful change in health care systems worldwide.
Support Bernard and his team during the live pitch competition at nursehack4health.org.