Two recent MPH graduates from the dual degree program at the University of Arizona’s Gulf Medical University MicroCampus in United Arab Emirates came in person to attend the Zuckerman College of Public Health’s Spring 2023 Convocation Ceremony on the Tucson Campus.
Two Dual MPH students from our UArizona – Gulf Medical University (GMU) MicroCampus in the United Arab Emirates joined us in Tucson to participate in the Spring 2023 Convocation ceremony. We were so pleased to welcome Ethel Akolaa and Dr. Latifah Alsaad in person alongside their families to celebrate the joyous occasion!
Both Ethel and Latifah walked in our Convocation ceremony and received their stoles from Dr. Gabriela Valdez. Dean Iman Hakim and the Global Health Institute team were especially excited to have them join the festivities in-person. Thank-you Ethel and Latifah for joining us in Tucson, congratulations on your MPH degrees, and we wish you all the best in your public health careers!
I strongly believe that Public Health is the key to changing a developing country into a developed country by helping to increase the economic growth of a society.
Ethel Akolaa, MPH
Ethel Aputerebuno Akolaa, MPH, grew up in the Upper East region of Ghana, and earned her BS in Public Health at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, Ghana. She plans to continue her education and earn her PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. When she’s not working on her studies or helping with public health programs in Ghana, Ethel enjoys reading, cooking, abstract painting, and food photography (@rosa_foodgraphy on Instagram), often featuring food she has prepared herself. She invites everyone to follow her and like her photos!
“I strongly believe that Public Health is the key to changing a developing country into a developed country by helping to increase the economic growth of a society,” says Ethel, “I chose Public Health so that I can improve population health.”
Dr. Alsaad earned her Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMS) from AMA International University in the Kingdom of Bahrain, her Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), from Gulf Medical University in United Arab Emirates, and her Health and Social Services (HSS) degree from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada before she earned her MPH from the MEZCOPH Dual Degree program. Latifah is from the Kingdom of Bahrain and hopes to continue to work in the field of public health and earn her PhD. She loves to travel when she has the chance, and she sometimes choses where to go by rolling a die to keep life surprising!
“Being part of teams that aim to make lasting changes to improve the health and wellbeing of society is very rewarding,” says Latifah, “This is why public health is the path that fulfills my dreams and goals in life! The road may not always be smooth for you, but follow your dreams while enjoying the journey. Always remember that education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
In addition to Ethel and Latifa who came to Tucson for Convocation, Mouza Almehairi, Dima Alwardat, Ewan Ambanattu, Abdurrahman Chikaire, and Haydy Nassar also graduated this year from the GMU Dual MPH program and were able to attend the ceremony virtually.
Congratulations to all of our GMU graduates!
See Ethel and Latifa's profiles on the Global Health Institute website:
