“I became passionate about maternal health during my obstetrics and gynecology rotation at Muhimbili National Hospital, the largest hospital in Tanzania. Seeing mothers suffering and even dying due to preventable pregnancy complications was heartbreaking. Why should women just die like that? I thought of the families they left behind, of their spouses and other children. This is why I decided to change my focus from individual patient care to the population level—to public health.
“I’ll never forget how I felt when I received my acceptance letter to Harvard School of Public Health. It was a dream come true. Even though attending Harvard meant leaving behind my beloved husband and two young children in Tanzania, I knew that it would be worth it. What I worried about was how I would pay for my tuition and living expenses. Without financial aid, I truly could not be here.
“I came to HSPH not just for myself but also for the millions of Tanzanians who are eager to see improvements in health for everyone. I am so very grateful to the donors whose gifts make it possible for students like me to do more to improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.”
— Mary Mwanyika-Sando, MPH ’13, Carson Scholar and Maternal & Child Health Services Coordinator, Management and Development for Health, Tanzania