My name is Kalkidan Amare. I graduated with a public health degree from California State Los Angeles University in 2023 and am planning to pursue a Master’s degree in public health. I am passionate about women’s health, especially concerning women of color. As a Black woman, I have experienced and witnessed discrimination in healthcare settings. In addition, coming from an immigrant household, I’ve seen loved ones prioritize other things–like school and work–before their own health.

Addressing disparities in cancer

During my internship at MiOra, I worked on women’s cancer projects, specifically uterine and ovarian cancer. I learned that white women are more likely to get early detection as well as be referred by a doctor than women of color. Sadly, Black women have the highest mortality rate. When we were conducting surveys asking women about uterine cancer and their knowledge of clinical trials, I was surprised by the number of women that were not aware or concerned about their health risks. This opened my eyes to how necessary educating and spreading awareness is amongst communities.

Improving health equity

I appreciate the acknowledgment and focus MiOra has on health disparities among women of color. I hope to continue to work on projects involving women’s health, so I gain more knowledge and experience on pertinent health issues amongst women. This will help me as well as other interns use the skills learned from working with MiOra to educate and bring awareness within their households and communities.

Kalkidan Amare
California State University Los Angeles