Arega

I am a public health professional and PhD candidate at Taxila American University with extensive experience in public health, Emergency health, maternal, child, and reproductive health programming in Ethiopia. particularly in humanitarian and conflict-affected settings. Over the past several years, I have worked in progressively responsible leadership and technical roles, from program coordination to senior management, and I currently serve as a Country Health Advisor. My work focuses on strengthening health systems, improving access to quality maternal and child health services, and integrating sexual and reproductive health programs within primary health care systems. My doctoral research, titled “Health System Resilience as a Determinant of Primary Health Care Continuity in Protracted Humanitarian Crises in Ethiopia,” examines how health systems can sustain essential services during prolonged crises in regions such as Tigray, Amhara, and Afar. Specifically, I am adapting and validating the Resilient Health Systems Appraisal Model (ReHSAM) to better understand how health systems can transition from emergency humanitarian response toward sustainable health system strengthening.

My research interests center on health system resilience, emergency preparedness, and the continuity of primary health care in fragile and conflict-affected settings. I am particularly interested in generating practical tools and frameworks—such as the Health System Transition and Resilience Questionnaire that can support policymakers and practitioners in strengthening health systems in crisis-prone environments.

Through participation in the APHRC and CARTA Virtual Academies, I aim to strengthen my methodological skills in advanced mixed-methods research, particularly structural equation modeling and tool validation, and to enhance my scientific writing for high-impact publications and policy briefs. I also hope to contribute to the academic community by generating context-specific evidence on bridging the humanitarian-development gap in African health systems and by sharing practical insights from my field experience. I believe the mentorship and collaborative learning environment offered by the academies will significantly enhance the quality and policy relevance of my research.