ALUMNI PROFILES
Simpson Tumwikirize MPH (Graduated in May 2008)
Associate Director of National Programs for Family Health International (FHI) on its Global HIV/AIDS Initiative in Nigeria (GHAIN)
I am a Public Health and Social Development Specialist. After obtaining my first degree in social sciences in 1992, I spent most of my initial ten years of work life in different parts of Uganda working with communities ravaged by HIV/AIDS, war and poverty. To 
enhance my leadership skills, I enrolled for an MBA at Makerere University, Kampala and graduated in 2003. The year 2004 was a turning point in my life. When the United States government launched the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to turn the tide against AIDS globally, many American Private Voluntary Organizations were recruiting people with skills and experience in HIV/AIDS programming especially in Africa where most PEPFAR programs are targeted. As such, my then employer offered me a job in Washington DC and I became part of a team to lead its international HIV/AIDS response. At the same time, my wife won a Diversity Visa lottery thereby making it easy for us to relocate to USA.
The new job and relocation came with both challenges and opportunities. With my social sciences background, I recognized the need to broaden my public health skills and knowledge to effectively perform my new job. Also, being a graduate of an African University, I felt uncomfortable, given that I was now competing for jobs with graduates from world class universities. I feared that one time, my academic qualification would be perceived inferior or my competencies doubted. To overcome these fears, I decided to pursue an MPH course from an American university so as to enhance my career in public health, protect my job and keep me competitive in the new country. I enrolled with UMASS Amherst in the Spring of 2006 and graduated in May 2008.
For the four years I worked in Washington DC, I held a position of HIV/AIDS Program Specialist, a job that involved developing, overseeing implementation and monitoring PEPFAR funded HIV/AIDS projects in different countries. During this period, I was one of the most advantaged student workers. Not only did I find the skills and knowledge from the various MPH courses handy in executing my work duties, but also, my field experiences were always captivating and appreciated by both faculties and colleagues during threaded discussions.
By 2007, I was confident of completing my degree on time. Equipped
with new public health skills and knowledge, coupled with my passion for serving vulnerable populations, I opted to take up a position in Nairobi, Africa, to once again get me closer to where my skills are needed most. Currently, I am working as an Associate Director of National Programs for Family Health International (FHI) on its Global HIV/AIDS Initiative in Nigeria (GHAIN). This USAID funded five year project is the largest HIV/AIDS response ever implemented in a single country. The project supports the government of Nigeria to scale up its national HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment efforts. Currently, GHAIN is providing over 70,000 people with life prolonging antiretroviral therapy and reaches thousands others with HIV/AIDS prevention and care. In addition to this USAID funded project, FHI is supporting the government of Nigeria to expand its national HIV/AIDS response with financial support from the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria.
I have no words to express my gratitude to my former colleagues, the management and staff of UMASS Amherst. Evidently, the MPH degree has turned around my career. I am amazed at how much more I know and how my contribution is changing lives. God bless you guys. Next year, I will return to live and work in Washington DC as I pursue American citizenship by naturalization. Thereafter, I will be open to move to anywhere I can make a contribution in the war against HIV/AIDS and improving public health.
In the first picture, I was receiving an award on behalf of my colleagues from an FHI board member in recognition of FHI Nigeria's exemplary performance in 2008. . In the second picture, I was awarding certificates to interns from the West African Health Organization (an affiliate of the Economic Community of West African Sates) after one year of learning about HIV/AIDS programming in Nigeria and hosted by FHI. The interns were from different West African countries.
Simpson is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi which is the nation's oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society. Simpson was chosen as an member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society due to his academic excellence and demonstration of qualities of leadership in public health.
