Student Spotlight: Yordanos Tesfai

Meet Yordanos Tesfai

• Degree Program: MSPH
  Area of Interest: Maternal, Fetal, and Perinatal Health
• Hometown: San Diego, CA
• Previous Degree Earned: B.S. Public Health, University of California, San Diego
• Fun fact: Growing up, I was an avid reader and loved learning about different animal species, with the giant panda being one of my favorites. A fun fact about giant pandas is that they are great swimmers and can climb trees!

What sparked your interest in public health?
My purpose in pursuing public health stems from recognizing how health disparities are a result of systemic and systematic violence coupled with a desire to learn and collaborate with others to create intentional, evidence-informed, and community-centered interventions. My dedication to public health practice is based on my communal responsibility to reduce the prevalence of health inequities by addressing social, political, and structural determinants of health that impact the health of individuals and communities at large. 

Why did you choose Bloomberg School of Public Health?
I chose the Bloomberg School of Public Health to connect with the Baltimore and larger DMV community. As these areas historically and currently are home to one of the largest populations of Black people in the U.S., I hope to support and uplift the grassroots work in these communities to improve health outcomes of Black birthing people. Additionally, as my interest in public health intersects with my passion for policy, I chose the Bloomberg School in part for its robust health policy department, which has given me the opportunity to contextualize reproductive health equity through a policy lens. 

I chose the Bloomberg School in part for its robust health policy department, which has given me the opportunity to contextualize reproductive health equity through a policy lens. 

What led you to join the Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health? 
The Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health was of personal interest to me, given my passion for working with and for Black birthing communities. Additionally, after reading the mission of the program, I appreciated the variety in coursework from population change, maternal legislation, as well as reproductive and perinatal epidemiology which support a comprehensive understanding of core public health principles. Furthermore, I was excited to develop practical skills working in with the field of population, family, and reproductive health utilizing a life course perspective through a field placement assignment. 

What is one experience in PFRH that stands out as a favorite or most memorable?
Outside of meeting amazing people who share similar interests in PFRH, one of my most memorable classroom experiences in PFRH would be during a course I took in the fourth term of my first year. In my Women’s Health Policy course taught by Charvonne Holliday Nworu, PhD, MPH, I appreciated the variety in guest lectures who spoke on the impact of gender on health policy in various settings. In specific, the guest lecture from Ellesse-Roselee Akré, PhD, MPH, was most memorable as she spoke to the importance of addressing positionality in public health work in addition to ensuring epistemic justice, or the respect and honoring of the knowledge and experiences of community members is centered when investigating systems of health inequity.  

Tell us about your field placement.
My field placement is with the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing where I am working on different projects in efforts to reduce health inequities through interventions centered towards improving health outcomes for Black birthing people in the Baltimore-D.C. area. Specifically, I am working with Noelene Jeffers, PhD, MSN, RN, to determine barriers and facilitators impacting the creation of successful doula and healthcare partnerships to improve access to doulas and reduce mortality rates among Black birthing people. Additionally, I am working with the research team to create and facilitate human-centered design workshops to inform postpartum interventions for Black birthing people with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

What do you hope to do or accomplish after graduation?
I hope to continue building my understanding of implementation science practices so that I am better equipped to work with collaborators to advance health equity through policy, research, and advocacy. Furthermore, I plan to foster collaborative connections with others in the fields of reproductive justice and maternal health to advance the current literature to inform future interventions and health policy to promote health equity, especially among birthing people.

What are some of your favorite places or aspects of living in Baltimore?
My favorite aspect of living in Baltimore is the number of community events and farmers' markets available. Specifically, I love attending the various events held at the Enoch Pratt libraries. Additionally, a few of my favorite coffee shops in Baltimore are Black Acres Roastery, Adee’s Coffee Roasters, and Matriarch Coffee. 

What advice do you have for prospective students interested in joining the PFRH community? 
My advice to prospective students is to find a sustainable self-care routine. As there are several amazing learning and professional opportunities available to students, it can initially feel very overwhelming. Be mindful of your capacity, avoid overextending yourself, and burning out!