Global Health Impact Endowment
Kate Kyeremateng, Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Kate Kyeremateng is a graduate student in the Epidemiology program. Trained as a nurse in Ghana, Kate has been interested in opportunities to promote health through science and research. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree in nursing, she volunteered at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Ghana and assisted in a clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of a vaccine for Lassa Fever disease in Africa. This experience sparked her interest in Epidemiology. Kate served as a nurse in rural Ghana as part of her mandatory national service. She recognized how the physical and social environment interact to shape the health of local communities. This led her to pursue research on an environmental health project led by Professor Raphael Arku in Accra, Ghana. The project was focused on examining the impacts of air and noise pollution on local communities and vulnerable populations. Kate then led the field team in the ongoing Accra birth cohort study designed to examine the impact of air pollution on maternal and child health in the city. At UMass Amherst, Kate continues to pursue her interest and seeks to leverage her training in Environmental Epidemiology to contribute to equitable health and policy initiatives with a focus on women and children in sub-Saharan Africa. Kate enjoys listening to podcasts and engaging in philosophical conversations with her friends.
I am extremely excited and honored to receive this award. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and recognition. I hope to apply my skills in epidemiology to conduct research and support policy interventions in the Global South, starting in my native country of Ghana. Thank you for this recognition.