Etsehiwot Yisak, from Ethiopia, is pursuing a master of public health in global health at Washington University in St. Louis. Her work focuses on maternal and child health, health equity, health systems strengthening, health policy, and women’s leadership. She is currently part of a team building a global web-based pediatric cancer survivorship guideline platform through the Health Design & Impact Lab at WashU, in collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s ARIA survivorship initiative. The project aims to create accessible, evidence-based survivorship guidance that can support healthcare providers globally.
Etsehiwot earned her medical degree and initially planned to become a pediatric surgeon, but her clinical experiences revealed that many childhood illnesses are preventable and rooted in broader systemic challenges. This realization shifted her focus from clinical practice toward improving health systems, prevention efforts, and public health leadership. As an Olin Business School Board Fellow at WashU, she is also gaining experience in nonprofit governance and resource management.
She co-founded ET Health Alley Consultancy, which addresses health literacy gaps through culturally relevant storytelling and media-driven awareness. The consultancy works to make health information more accessible, particularly in maternal and child health, HIV awareness, and neural tube defect prevention through folic acid fortification.
After completing her studies, Etsehiwot plans to return to Ethiopia to contribute to health policy and systems reform that integrates community voices into sustainable healthcare solutions. Her goal is to ensure women’s real-life experiences are included in high- level government decisions and to become a policymaker advancing meaningful healthcare improvements.
