Is this programme right for you?

Nam: Lord Tadesse Mekonnen
Comes from: Ethiopia

It has always been my dream to study at Uppsala University, one of the best universities focusing on public health research.

What is your background?
– I graduated in medicine in Ethiopia in 2019. Before joining Upsala University, I was working as a general practitioner in different hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 2020, I worked as a Covid-19 emergency responder in a quarantine centre as a medical screener at Addis Ababa Bole international airport, and in a government hospital on severe case patients. During my medical school internship, my friends and I co-founded a local NGO called Kalkidan Charity which focuses on delivering free healthcare services for the vulnerable in different parts of Ethiopia.

What made you choose to study global health at Uppsala University?
– It has always been my dream to study at Uppsala University, one of the best universities focusing on public health research. I have always been interested in studying global health, focusing on women’s and children’s health. This is directly linked to the work of my NGO back in Ethiopia. It would bring impact to my society hence I could apply the knowledge and skills I will develop from experienced teachers studying at Uppsala University.

What are your goals for the future in global health?
– I would like to work on research and guidelines and work with researchers and policymakers to close the gap for achieving the Sustainable Developmental Goals on time.

What has been the most interesting part of the programme this far?
– There has been great teaching and learning experience here. Coming from the medical field, our ways of thinking were wired in a way to memorise class notes and books. After starting this programme, the idea of critical thinking has been recreating the way am perceiving how things and how they will turn out.

What is the best part of studying at an international programme?
– Studying in an international programme is having the privilege of cultural exchange, widening my perspective of life, and sharing knowledge and experiences that I had no clue of its existence.

Favourite things to do in Uppsala?
– I call Uppsala the city that doesn’t sleep. People are very welcoming and the landscape is blessed with recreational activities that make it possible to explore. You can find yourself going on hiking in the daytime and swimming in the lake, in the afternoon with a cup of coffee in one of the beautiful cafes and by the evening so many activities with the student nations beyond midnight which makes you realise that 24 hours is not enough.

Våren 2023