Abdulhafiz Mohammed Kedir

Hafiz is a dedicated medical doctor with significant experience working in remote and conflict-affected regions of Ethiopia. He has served as both a general practitioner and a hospital administrator, with a consistent focus on making healthcare accessible to those who need it the most. Hafiz enjoys clinical practice, staying updated on medical research and innovations, and crafting strategies to improve patient care. His colleagues often describe him as a people person who is passionate about delivering respectful and accessible medical services.

His journey in medicine began with a profound childhood experience in his father's ophthalmology clinic, where he witnessed firsthand the life-changing impact of restoring sight to patients. This early experience shaped his belief that medicine is not just about treating illness; it is about restoring hope and dignity to individuals' lives. This guiding philosophy has steered him throughout his career, whether working with diverse communities, providing care during disease outbreaks, or assisting displaced populations in challenging situations.

Hafiz has been fortunate enough to work in various settings, which have broadened his understanding of healthcare delivery. His experience includes managing complex cases, such as multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, dealing with healthcare challenges during outbreaks, and developing systems to improve care coordination. Throughout these experiences, he has learned that the most significant improvements often arise from actively listening to communities and collaborating to address their specific needs.

What drew Hafiz to the Rotary Peace Fellowship is his lifelong commitment to service and his desire to expand access to medical services for vulnerable populations in resource-limited settings. One of Rotary's focus areas is promoting peace through development, and Hafiz's values and interests align closely with Rotary’s vision of strengthening resilience, especially in the face of epidemics and fragile contexts. The COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflict in his country have highlighted the urgent need to enhance the preparedness of vulnerable populations and improve the responsiveness of healthcare systems to transmissible diseases.

With the generous support of Rotary International, Hafiz is set to begin his graduate studies in Public Health, specializing in Applied Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina, taking joint classes at Duke University in Peace and Conflict Resolution. He aims to focus on effective approaches to epidemiological responses in resource-constrained settings, utilizing cutting-edge data collection and analysis methods. Hafiz looks forward to collaborating with public health experts and professionals committed to improving the global health system, making it more responsive and equitable for all.