Springtime at the UW is more than just cherry blossoms and baseball games. In the School of Public Health, it is also Career Month. While students have access to career development services throughout the year, the events and workshops available in April feature public health experts, including SPH alumni, allowing students to connect with them in group and individual settings. For the DGH Alumni Chats event, DGH alumni took the time to participate in 1:1 virtual chats with DGH MPH students to answer questions, reflect on how DGH prepared them for their jobs, and share some advice.
Advancing health equity in different fields, locations, and communities, our alumni provided insight into various careers in global health and what steps current and potential students can take to get there.
Read what they had to say below.
Jean-Jacques Kayembe, MD, MPH
Jean-Jacques is the Director of Program Operations for Harborview Medical Center’s Interpreter Services Department, whose mission is to contribute to the elimination of health care disparities experienced by King County’s culturally and linguistically diverse population.
Why did you choose to work with interpreter services?
My journey into interpreter services is deeply personal and rooted in my professional and lived experiences.
As a trained physician, public health worker, and veteran of the U.S. Army, I have always believed that dignity in healthcare begins with understanding and starts with language because I have seen firsthand how language barriers can deeply impact the quality and safety of patient care. I chose to work with interpreter services because I believe communication is not just a tool but a fundamental right in healthcare.
Patients with a language of care other than English deserve the same standard of care as any other patient, and qualified medical interpreters play a critical role in making that possible. During my time at Public Health – Seattle & King County, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, I witnessed how language barriers compounded fear, isolation, and misinformation, particularly for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. The pandemic didn’t just expose gaps in our systems; it made them personal.
Now, as Director of Interpreter Services at Harborview Medical Center and the founder of the Congolese United Foundation, I advocate daily for equitable access to care. My work is rooted in a deep belief: “To be heard is to be healed.” Qualified interpreters are not a luxury for many patients; they are a lifeline. In a time when funding cuts, layoffs, and policy rollbacks shook the very foundations of support systems for immigrant communities, language access became not just a right but an act of resistance.
How did your education with DGH prepare you for this job?
My time at the University of Washington's Department of Global Health (DGH) was transformational. My MPH gave me more than just academic knowledge; it gave me a framework for compassionate, systems-level change. Through DGH, I learned how to connect policy with practice, and people with power. Courses in health systems, implementation science, and community-based participatory research helped me understand how structural barriers like language inaccessibility impact populations both globally and locally. The DGH’s emphasis on social justice and community empowerment shaped how I lead interpreter services and community programs, always centering the voices and needs of those most affected.
My education became the backbone of my work at PATH, where I collaborated on malaria and maternal health interventions, and with PRONTO International on providing training in Niger. But most of all, DGH reminded me that "Public health is not just about saving lives; it’s about affirming them.” Whether I was coordinating pandemic response in King County or launching interpreter rounding initiatives at Harborview, I applied the tools DGH gave me to fight for equity from the front lines of care to the boardroom.
What advice do you have for current DGH students?
To DGH students, I would say three things that resonate to me every day as I wake up and go to work:
- Lean into your purpose, and don’t let perfection get in the way of progress.
- Don’t be afraid to lead and don’t wait for permission to make a difference.
- Get out into the community, listen intentionally, and remember that sustainable change is always built through partnerships and trust.
Remember that the world you are inheriting is uncertain.
Many of the challenges we study in global health are playing out in our own communities, especially among immigrant, refugee, and historically marginalized populations. You may face budget cuts, shifting policies, and systems not built with your communities in mind. However, remember this: “Even in broken systems, you can build bridges.” I have seen that firsthand, through my work with underserved immigrant populations with the Congolese United Foundation.
If you are a student from a marginalized background like me, know this: your story matters. Your perspective is your power. You don’t have to choose between serving locally and thinking globally because our communities are both. Surround yourself with people who care, stay grounded in your values, and never forget why you started this journey. In times of uncertainty, use your training to bridge worlds and create equitable, inclusive, and just systems.
Marilyn Nyabuti, MBChB, MPH
Marilyn is a seasoned expert with 7+ years of collective professional engagement in the fields of medicine, healthcare program management, and research. She is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the AATTACH Scale Up Study in Nairobi, Kenya.
Why did you choose to pursue a job focused on research?
Prior to pivoting into research full time, I worked as a medical doctor in Kenya and saw how health system challenges affected both patients and providers. That experience made me realize how important research is in driving meaningful, evidence-based change and I wanted to be part of the process that informs better policies and improves healthcare delivery in Kenya. I had already spent almost five years working in research before joining the MPH program at UW, so it felt natural to return to it.
How did your education with DGH prepare you for this job?
My biggest takeaway from the program was the value of collaboration—both locally and globally—which has really helped me thrive in my current role. The program also strengthened my skills in research methods and data management. These are core parts of my day-to-day work now. Overall, it gave me both the confidence and the technical know-how to lead a dynamic research team.
What advice do you have for current DGH students who want to pursue a research-based career?
- Spend as much time building relationships as you do learning new skills—networking does open doors.
- Don’t limit yourself to what you are good at. Grad school is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself academically and make mistakes. You have access to incredible mentors and peers who can support your growth in new areas and identify your niche.
Felix Mogaka, MBChB, MPH
Felix is a clinical research scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute – Research Care and Training Program in Kisumu Kenya. His research focuses on the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
Why did you choose to pursue a job focused on research?
I was drawn to a career in research because of its power to shape society. Coming from a clinical background, I initially saw research as a way to simply identify what works. Over time, my perspective evolved — I now ask what works, for whom, and under what conditions. Research gives me the tools to explore questions that are relevant to the communities I serve and to generate evidence that informs policy and practice.
How did your education with DGH prepare you for this job?
DGH provided me with the tools, mentorship, and community to grow as a researcher. Learning alongside a global cohort and being mentored by world-class faculty gave me confidence in my abilities and aspirations. The network I built — and continue to rely on — has been invaluable. I still turn to UW faculty for second opinions on statistical analyses or feedback on grant proposals. Beyond technical skills, DGH shaped how I think about health systems, community engagement, and the broader social, economic, and political forces that influence public health.
What advice do you have for current DGH students who want to pursue a research-based career?
Be intentional during your time at the UW. Take every opportunity to connect — with fellow students, faculty across departments, and the wider global health research ecosystem in Seattle. Stay engaged after graduation by joining mailing lists from DGH centers and keeping in touch with your mentors. There’s a vibrant and supportive community waiting for you, thanks to the foundation laid by DGH alumni, faculty, and staff — and it’s a resource you’ll carry with you long after your time as a student.