Meet the Takemi Program 2024–2025 Cohort
The 2024–2025 Takemi Program cohort includes nine fellows from Ghana, Ethiopia, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, and Hong Kong, with two continuing fellows from Nigeria and one Palestinian citizen of Israel. Their research interests span social isolation, mental health, infectious diseases, child health services, cancer prevention, and disaster preparedness.
Takemi Fellows 2024–2025
Francis Anderson Adzei brings a unique combination of public health and legal expertise to the program. As a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School and a qualified barrister and solicitor, he believes in using law as an instrument for developing and narrowing health inequalities. His Takemi project examines lessons from Ghana’s COVID-19 pandemic response to optimize health promotion strategies for improved health system resource allocation.
Daisuke Kato brings his experience as a family physician and lecturer at Mie University Graduate School of Medicine to address the pressing issue of social isolation in aging populations. As a project researcher at Chiba University’s Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, he focuses on developing effective interventions to mitigate the health impacts of social isolation. His Takemi project aims to eliminate social isolation among older persons while reducing regional health inequities, focusing on creating age-friendly cities that prioritize social well-being.
Anya Vieira Meyer brings her extensive experience in dentistry and public health research to address urgent challenges facing community health workers. As a senior researcher at Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Ceará and Professor at Centro Universitário Christus, she leads a research group studying the impacts of urban violence and COVID-19 on health workers in Brazil. Her Takemi project examines these effects on the mental health and work performance of community health agents in northeastern Brazil.
Yoshitaka Nishikawa combines his experience as a physician and epidemiologist to address crucial public health challenges in disaster-affected areas. As an assistant professor at Kyoto University School of Public Health, he has spent over a decade working in Fukushima, focusing on disaster risk reduction. His Takemi project investigates stable iodine implementation as a thyroid protection measure in radiation emergencies, bridging his expertise in clinical oncology and public health.
Camila Volij combines her clinical work as a family doctor with research interests in health policies and epidemiology. Her path to family medicine was influenced by a trip to Cuba, where she witnessed the holistic approach of family practitioners. After completing her medical degree at the University of Buenos Aires and specializing in Family Medicine at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires (HIBA), she pursued a research fellowship and a Master’s in Clinical Effectiveness. A significant focus of her work has been on women’s health, which she continues to explore through her Takemi project, which performs a policy analysis of cervical cancer access and effective coverage across the continuum of care in Argentina.
Theodros (Tedi) Getachew brings his expertise in public health, biostatistics, and medical laboratory science to improve child health services in Ethiopia. Currently serving as the Director of Health System Research at the Ethiopian Public Health Research Institute, his work focuses on generating evidence across health systems and reproductive health. His Takemi project examines the quality, equity, and effective coverage of child health services in Ethiopia, building on his PhD research on integrated community case management.
Jie (Jane) Zhao is an assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health. She employs her multidisciplinary medical science, nutrition, and epidemiology expertise to study non-communicable chronic diseases. Her interest in this area began with an exploration of the differing cardiovascular risks between men and women, particularly the impact of sex hormones. Over time, her research expanded to include social determinants and mental health, influenced by her personal experiences. Currently, her Takemi project utilizes data from cohorts in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Indonesia to identify predictors of depression among populations with varying socio-economic contexts.
The program also welcomes back two second-year fellows:
Fareeda Abo-Rass continues her work on mental health literacy among marginalized populations. As a social worker and researcher, currently holding a postdoctoral fellowship at Smith College’s School for Social Work, she focuses on the psychosocial aspects of mental health among the Palestinian minority in Israel. Her second-year project explores reconceptualizing mental health literacy in war and disaster zones.
Adam Abdullahi extends his research on infectious diseases as a Cambridge-Africa Research Fellow and junior research faculty at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria. His work examines immune responses to vaccination and emerging infectious diseases across African populations. His second-year project focuses on navigating future infectious disease threats and assessing Nigeria’s preparedness and response strategies.
The Takemi Program in International Health seeks to improve health and health systems around the world by welcoming mid-career health professionals and scholars to the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health to conduct path-breaking research and develop their leadership skills.
