Â鶹Éçmadou

Who is Engineering World Health (EWH) and what do they do?

EWH is a dynamic global organization serving engineering students, healthcare professionals, and, most importantly, communities and patients in need around the world. Our mission is to inspire, educate, and empower the biomedical engineering community to improve healthcare delivery around the world. Through our institute programs, chapters, engineering education initiatives, virtual programs and cultural exchanges we aim to spread awareness of challenges that exist in low-resource healthcare systems.  

As the Operations Coordinator for EWH, what does your role involve?

I oversee our global network of EWH Chapters, our K-12 education initiatives and our virtual programming offerings. Our Chapters are clubs, often run through universities, that further the mission of EWH by doing outreach in their communities, hosting speakers and events and attending our summer institutes. Managing all of these programs keeps me very busy but I really enjoy working with students at all levels who have an interest in and a passion for science, engineering and improving global health!

What is your background and how did you come to work for EWH?

I’m from North Carolina originally and studied at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. My background is in non-profit development and administration, and I joined EWH in 2022. I was interested in working with EWH because I believe healthcare is a human right and was interested in being a part of an organization with the goal of expanding access to healthcare globally.

What is the most rewarding part of working with EWH?

It is very rewarding getting to work with students of all ages who are interested in making the world a better place! I really enjoy getting to meet with students and hear all their ideas about the future of engineering. It fills me with a lot of optimism!

Why is the work of EWH so important to low resource communities?

Each year, returning EWH Institute alumni share that they are amazed by how quickly the equipment they repair is put into action in our partner hospitals. There is a real and present need for increased access to life-saving equipment in low-resource settings and I am proud of the work that EWH does to bring equipment back into use. Our approach, to create holistic and collaborative opportunities for students and the communities we serve, is innovative and long-term solution based. 

You’re leading the Â鶹Éçmadou GIE FEAS Program for EWH in 2023, what excites you most about this program?

I’m excited to see all the innovative solutions that our Â鶹Éçmadou GIE FEAS cohort come up with during this program! Every year I am more and more blown away by the creativity our virtual program participants exhibit when designing their solutions to real-world challenges faced in the hospitals that EWH works with.

What advice do you have for high school girls wanting to make an impact through engineering?

Pursue your passions confidently and fearlessly - we need to bridge the gap for women in STEM! I am so proud to work on an all-women team at EWH. Also, remember that you can learn something new from everyone you meet, so ask questions and be kind!

Find out more about and the Â鶹Éçmadou GIE FEAS Program.