“I was impressed by ZEF’s focus on issues that are very crucial to developing countries”.
Abay Asfaw’s master’s and PhD research on health issues in his home country Ethiopia brought him to his position with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA.
Fact sheet
- Abay Asfaw comes from Ethiopia.
- PhD at ZEF: 1999-2002
- PhD topic: Costs of Illness, the Demand for Medical Care, and the Prospect of Community Health Insurance Schemes in the Rural Areas of Ethiopia.
- PhD funding agency: ZEF
- Supervisor and tutors: Joachim von Braun; Johannes Jutting, Assefa Admassie
- Current position: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Q&A with Abay
Why did you choose ZEF for pursuing your doctoral research?
My master’s degree advisor, Dr. Assefa Admassie, told me about ZEF while we were discussing my next career step. I was very impressed by ZEF’s focus on issues that are very crucial to developing countries such as food security, sustainable development, nature conservation, community participation, etc. In Ethiopia, the country I come from, access to health care is one of the decisive factors that impede human development including food security. When I was young, there was no health insurance market at all in the country – although such an insurance would have protected (especially poor) households from the catastrophic financial shock that illness often brings about. I realized that my research interest in the areas of community health insurance would best align with ZEF’s focus on community participation. My doctoral research produced several journal articles that showed how community health insurance schemes could be implemented in Ethiopia. These schemes would also promote food security and protect the poor against the impact of health shocks.
How has your doctoral education at ZEF impacted your career?
The interdisciplinary nature of ZEF helped me to think beyond economics and to work with researchers with different disciplines. The ZEF weekly seminars (including lectures by invited guest researchers), core methodological and applied courses, diversity of students, and visits to different universities and research institutes had a profound impact on my career.
What are you most proud of, in terms of career-wise achievements?
Now, I am a senior researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is one of the U.S. federal agencies.
What is your best memory of your time at ZEF?
During our first-year, 1999/2000, classes were given at the German Parliament complex, after the German Bundestag moved from Bonn to Berlin. That was quite impressive. Other memorable events include trips to different places including wine testing, concerts organized by University of Bonn, and yearly get-together parties.
ZEF and its doctoral program celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. Any wishes from your side?
I wish the institute to have a visionary leader like Professor von Braun who can perceive not only the current but also the future research needed for and in this dynamic world.
In the photo: Abay Asfaw at work accompanied by his children
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