Assistant professor health nutrition science garumma tor facesa Feissa is one of 30 new faculty members joining Brooklyn College in fall 2023. Feissa, who teaches in the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, has expertise in key research areas including health equity, maternal and child health, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health. She is passionate about expanding evidence-based policy and practice in health and social care through evidence-based research and education. She also seeks to bridge the gap between research and policy/practice by leveraging her methodologies, including assessment, synthesis, and translation of knowledge, in response to requests from policy makers and practitioners. Masu.
We asked Feissa why he chose Brooklyn College and why maternal health is such an area of interest to him.
What led you to enroll at Brooklyn College?
I came to Brooklyn College driven by a passion for research, teaching, and making a positive impact on the community. I find satisfaction and fulfillment in guiding and supporting students in their educational journey. Brooklyn is an ideal environment to implement high-quality teaching and mentoring strategies to support students on their career journeys.
I was also attracted to the diversity of students, staff, and faculty. We appreciate the University’s commitment to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion. I believe that diversity enriches the educational experience and promotes an atmosphere of respect and understanding. Additionally, the University’s emphasis on community partnerships and services aligns with my desire to advance evidence-based policy and practice through community-based research and community engagement. Additionally, the university is located in a vibrant, culturally diverse neighborhood that provides unique opportunities for community engagement.
How did you become interested in health equity issues?
Health equity is about reducing avoidable and unjust inequalities in health outcomes and access to health care. I grew up in a rural area of a developing country, where most morbidity and mortality is due to preventable causes and the unequal distribution of services. All people, regardless of their background, deserve the same chance to enjoy a healthy life.
A wife is three times more likely to die during childbirth just because she is black, or just because she lives in a certain area, or just because she comes from a low-income household. Imagine how you would feel if you were told that. Imagine being told that just because the mother is black, your newborn is twice as likely to die in the first year of life as any other newborn. As such, my deep commitment to addressing disparities in health outcomes and access to health services among different populations has led me to examine health outcomes from a health equity perspective, which examines the various social and structural determinants of health. It gave me the motivation to. This involves a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing health issues, creating opportunities to collaborate with experts from multiple disciplines. This creates a suitable context for investigating the complex and multifaceted issues that contribute to health disparities. It also provides important opportunities for innovation in health care delivery, policy development, and interventions, which is intellectually inspirational to me. Contributing to the knowledge base that improves the lives of underserved communities and individuals is a source of professional satisfaction for me.
You are a maternal health researcher. What are the biggest issues you see in this area?
In general, maternal health issues are diverse and rooted in social, physical, and policy environments. Size may vary depending on settings. Direct causes of maternal death include death due to cardiovascular disease, death due to exacerbation of pre-existing conditions during pregnancy, death related to new conditions such as bleeding or infection, or stress-related factors such as substances. can be mentioned. Misuse and mental health conditions. Maternal health is a complex and diverse problem, but most preventable problems are related to unequal access to information and a lack of comprehensive and culturally appropriate services. The sad news is that these fatalities disproportionately impact underserved communities, but the good news is that most of these fatalities are preventable. Approaching problems from a social determinant perspective is more impactful and efficient than disease-based approaches.
What maternal and child health policies do you recommend to implement?
The most efficient and effective way to address maternal health issues is through a multifaceted approach that includes elements both inside and outside the health system. Recent efforts focused on community engagement, promoting health equity, and holistic approaches to health issues are promising. When I say addressing health issues holistically, I mean addressing not only the physical aspects of health, but also promoting mental and social well-being. This is especially important as recent data shows that mental health problems, drug use and suicide are increasing causes of maternal deaths. While physical issues remain important, the impact of mental health issues is significant. These problems are not only serious, but also affect future generations, families, and society as a whole. And again, these mental health issues disproportionately impact underserved communities. While there are policies for each specific health issue, improving access to socially responsive, high-quality services and establishing health navigation strategies tailored to the needs of our communities is something we all can focus on. This is an important issue to be addressed. This highlights the need to address key issues from a health equity perspective. This also requires continued dialogue between policy makers, researchers and communities.
How do you think Brooklyn College students and faculty can contribute to maternal health issues and health care disparities in general?
As faculty, we work with our students to further understand these health issues and explore ways to translate that evidence into policy and practice. We also engage with communities, co-learn, and work together to develop strategies to address health disparities. All political parties have a stake here. If either party is lacking or does not fulfill their responsibilities to the extent required, nothing will be successful. Therefore, my message is to each member of our community—community-based organizations, cities, states, and federal agencies, students, staff, and faculty—that their role is critical and that limited involvement is critical. It is a reminder that even the most important things are not achieved. At any party. With full commitment and dedication, we can bring about impactful change and build healthy societies.
