Abnet Muluneh

What motivates you? 

I believe my love and loyalty for my country and its people motivates me the most. The debt I owe my people pushes me to go that extra mile and I will not falter until that debt is repaid. The majority of my population is in some form of poverty and indigence; I have made an oath to put my people before anything and I intend to keep it. As a medical professional, I have a unique insight into how the population receives health care and I aspire to change that for the better. 

What drew you to your professional field?

Since my early childhood, helping people has always given me joy. Unfortunately, a healthy lifestyle is considered a luxury in most parts of the country. In my effort to change that, I joined medical school which gave me a cavernous perspective of how truly the health system is stretched and needs a major change. As a clinician, I got accustomed to ordering medications that are constantly unavailable in the country. I asked myself repeatedly what I can do to address this issue and finally shifted my attention to public health. 

What is something from your country that you would like to share with the UC Davis community?

I will state the obvious: our culture, our food and our music. But there is so much more. Ethiopia is a country known for its 13 months of sunshine with its own calendar system and alphabet. It is known as "The Birthplace of Coffee." We pride ourselves on the aromatic and complex flavor notes of our coffee, which is renowned throughout the world. Some of the oldest human remains ever unearthed are from Ethiopia, Australopithecus afarensis, also known as LUCY. Finally, Ethiopia is filled with a diverse population that is known for its warm and welcoming cultures and beautiful harmony among several religions. 

How would you like to engage with UC Davis and the community here?

I am a very friendly person; therefore, I would like to continue this conduct of mine when I engage with the community at Davis. I have heard Davis is a city with community relations deeply rooted in their culture and I can't wait to experience that.