Ababa Morke

Global Health MPH'23

December 16, 2022

What did you do prior to graduate school?

Prior to graduate school, I went into the Peace Corps. I worked for three months before COVID-19 happened, and then we were evacuated. I came back home. I applied for a job as a microbiologist. Then, I worked as a microbiologist for a medical device company until the fall of 2021.

Why did you choose Rollins for your public health education?

I liked that their program was in-depth and comprehensive. I liked the freedom to take classes from other departments. This way, I am not too restricted to just main concentration classes. I like the fact that I can do the MCH [Maternal and Child Health] Certificate and global health concentration without having to pick one or the other.

How does the program’s flexibility support your MCH Certificate trajectory?

I found this class, GH 546: Maternal and Child Nutrition, and it has, kind of, directed my whole trajectory. My interests before were in sexual and reproductive health, and I did work in menstrual health. I was interested in MCH, of course, but then I took the nutrition class. I was like, Wow! Now, this is interesting. Nutrition affects the whole spectrum of MCH, from adolescent nutrition affecting events like pregnancy to the newborn child’s early life and brain development. That class led me to dig more and do further work on early childhood development and nutrition’s effect on birth outcomes.

How are sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and maternal and child health (MCH) related?

Sexual and reproductive health fits within maternal and child health so ensuring that birthing people have access to sexual and reproductive health improves maternal and child health. They complement each other, and they are a little bit different. When we talk about, sexual and reproductive health, for example, we must talk about menstrual health education and support for people that bleed and experience menstruation. When students have menstrual health and support, they are more likely to focus on other things like learning and careers. When students learn, they have the skills and knowledge necessary to make better decisions for themselves surrounding sex, pregnancy, and nutrition as they develop into adults.

What other class has been a favorite of yours?

I liked GH 572: Community Transformation. It was a class that challenged me in ways that made me question my positionality when I speak, and my place when I go into a community to conduct research. It taught me how to reflect on my privileges and perspective, and how [these] affect the communities I engage with. Honestly, everyone should take this class.

What professional opportunities have you completed at Rollins?

As a REAL student, last year, I worked with the CDC [Centers for Disease Control]. It was a valuable experience. I learned how that kind of organization works and does not work. The area I was working in was interconnected with the complete process of project implementation. When trying to work on just one project, you must go through many different [steps] as a government organization. Many people want to work at the CDC, but I feel like they do not realize how slow it [progress] is. The process of having a project approved, even from just the conceptual form, is interesting, and it was an important experience. For one of the projects, I was working on vaccine hesitancy. Last year was very tense, as you know, not everyone in the country was willing to get vaccinated. This sensitive topic has been very humbling, especially when trying to talk to people about why they have not vaccinated their children or themselves. I did this from October until May. Then in the summer, I worked at the Title V MCH Internship. I was placed with my first choice, which was in Minnesota, working on donor breast milk policies and perceptions in the state. When I said that class [Maternal and Child Nutrition] had set my trajectory, it really did. I worked on surveys and in-depth interviews with peer counselors who are in the community trying to encourage more mothers to breastfeed, with lactation consultants working in the hospital, and doctors that work with premature babies.

What advice do you have for current or future students?

I would say to be open to new opportunities, or even just areas that you do not think you would be interested in. I thought I came here with reproductive and menstrual health, and I still love that area, but I would not have found this other area [nutrition] if I had not opened myself up to learning about other areas. I would have just stayed in reproductive health and taken general classes only in that direction. I was advised by someone who graduated. I asked what their advice was, and they said, “Be open to everything.” So, take the class, see what happens, and where that leads you, and follow it if you have just even a little bit of interest, or if you are even a little curious.

What do you like to do outside of graduate school?

I am a homebody, not gonna lie. I like to just chill at home and watch a show. I like to binge-watch shows, and I have not watched a movie in a while. Besides that, I have a nonprofit that I do work for. The name of our organization is Bilisummaa. Our mission is to provide menstrual health education and hygiene products to students in Ethiopia. I monitor what happens on the ground. In addition, we recently started a student organization called Rollins African Diaspora Student Association. We have our first event on Tuesday, November 1st. We are here to build a community of African Diaspora working and studying public health.

What are your plans after completing your degree this upcoming spring?

I have been thinking about it since last year, and I do not have a super clear idea of where I will be. My goal is to work in maternal and child health, in government or otherwise, I am open to the private sector to work in program evaluation or data analysis. I find it interesting, and right now, I am working as an evaluation coordinator for an organization. Hopefully, somewhere in that direction. I am still working on trying to narrow down exactly what I want, but not too specific to where I cannot find a job. I am a learner at heart so I would like to be in a place of learning opportunities and empowerment.

From everyone at Emory MCH, we wish you continued success and fulfillment, Ababa!