Ffyona V. Patel, M.P.H. ’14
Photo by Ffyona Patel
As a first-generation Black woman in America, Yale School of Public Health alumna Ffyona Patel, M.P.H. ’14, says her racial and cultural background is an important asset in her international public health work – both in terms of connecting with local partners and in reflecting the diversity of the places where development occurs.
“In my experience, it makes a real difference to local stakeholders to feel like implementers ‘get’ the context and are personally motivated to work side-by-side toward advancements,” Patel said. “It is doing development with and not for, or to, beneficiaries. And seeing yourself reflected in your partners is an important way of bridging relationships equitably.”