Q: Please tell us a little bit about yourself

Prior to joining the University of Washington, I was a member of a research team that carried out a multi-state NIH-funded project in collaboration with Boston Medical School and Boston University to address opioid overdose prevention, treatment, and reduction in the US. Prior to this, I directed the Strategic Information team in Lesotho with Partners in Health, focusing on monitoring, evaluation, medical informatics, and research. In that capacity, my team secured a substantial operational research grant to assess the impact of a national health system reform pilot across four districts. In this role, I was a member of the national Strategic Information Technical Working Group, collaborating with other partners but led by the Ministry of Health. Regarding my motivation, my Ethiopian background is the driver for my interest in studying implementation science to improve healthcare quality in resource-limited communities with financial and human resource challenges.

Q: Why did you decide to attend the UW for graduate school?

The University of Washington has an exceptional global health faculty and stands as one of the few institutions worldwide that provides a PhD program in implementation science. This will prove invaluable in my endeavor to merge my past experiences with the academic skills necessary to provide quality primary healthcare for communities facing limited financial or human resources.

Q: What are your research interests?

My research interest is the application of implementation strategies in primary healthcare settings to enhance service delivery and utilization, ultimately aiming to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.

Q: What are you enjoying most about your graduate program?

I began my PhD program in September 2020, attending classes remotely from Boston, Massachusetts. Thanks to the thorough COVID-19 prevention measures implemented by the University of Washington's Department of Global Health, my education proceeded without interruptions. I appreciate the resources available to students during this unique time in history.