What first got you interested in health equity?

“My dad suddenly had trouble breathing one night. We called an ambulance, but when the medics checked his oxygen levels, they said he was fine and refused to take him to the hospital. My mom, who’s a nurse, knew something was wrong and took him to the hospital herself. It turned out my dad had a blood clot in his lungs, which could have been deadly if it had not been treated. Later, I learned that pulse oximeters can be less accurate for people with darker skin, which is probably why he was dismissed in the first place. That experience made health inequities very real for me, and made me interested in addressing systemic health issues.”

Can you talk more about some of that research you’ve done in communities you’re part of or connected to?

“I’ve worked on a few different equity-focused research projects. One project was a malnutrition study in Ethiopia, where I worked in three major cities with a few different faculty. We conducted focus groups in Amharic, which helped me understand the participants of our study on a deeper level because I have familial ties to Ethiopia.

The second project was a mobile market study in the Twin Cities, focused on implementing markets in subsidized housing. I grew up in subsidized housing, and many participants were East African immigrants or immigrants from other places. That familiarity helped me connect with participants in ways that others might not.”

What challenges do you face in prioritizing antiracist efforts?

“The current sociopolitical climate has made antiracism and health equity more challenging. It feels like there are limits on how openly health equity can be addressed. Health equity requires directness to be effective, so it’s disappointing that we sometimes have to be subtle. But I think there will be a pendulum swing, where we’ll eventually be able to be more direct again. There’s hope in that.”

What changes have you noticed at SPH since you started, if any? Are there any other changes you’d like to see?

“I’ve seen more unity across divisions. There’s been more collaboration, like joint student training sessions, which is encouraging. Continuing to connect across divisions—and across schools, like nursing—could be really beneficial. Also, I think there is fear or uncertainty within academic institutions because of the clear power imbalances. Doing more to create spaces for people to feel safe and respected is important.”

What changes does the field of public health need to make to be more antiracist?

“Community-engaged research is critical. Giving communities a seat at the table makes a huge difference in research effectiveness. I know it can be resource-intensive, like providing language access, but solutions need to be embedded in communities, and community members need to be part of creating them.”

What inspires you to keep doing this work?

“My community and family believe in me, and that motivates me to do better. I’m also driven by service. I want to use what I’ve learned to create something that helps others, not just keep that knowledge to myself. For example, I’ve always wanted to create something for Ethiopia—whether it’s a foundation, business, or initiative—that makes opportunities rather than extracts.”