Research Assistant with START 

Master of Public Health in Global Health 

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. 

My name is Cirilus Ogollah, and my story begins in a small village in Migori, Kenya, where I was born into a polygamous family. My father had 11 wives, and my mother was the eleventh. Together, we formed an incredibly large family of 98 siblings, all living in one homestead. Life in our village was simple but challenging. Every evening, it was a family tradition for each wife to contribute food to a communal house where the entire family gathered for supper—moments that captured the strength of community, even amidst hardship.

Growing up, health care was almost nonexistent. The nearest health facility was more than ten kilometers away, and without access to proper medical services, we relied on herbal remedies for illnesses. I vividly remember my stepmothers discussing how only about 20% of my siblings were born in a hospital; the rest were delivered at home under unsafe conditions. Even basic sanitation was a struggle. Our vast family shared a single pit latrine, which many often ignored in favor of open defecation. As a child, I found myself instinctively trying to identify which leaves or roots could heal particular ailments. But deep down, I knew these improvised solutions were not enough; our community needed something more.

In my fourth year of high school, tragedy hit our family in ways I will never forget. I lost my eldest brother, who had been the breadwinner, to advanced HIV. Just three months later, one of my stepmothers died of cervical cancer. These losses left an indelible mark on me. I was devastated, traumatized, and nearly fell into depression. I knew something had to change—I had to find a way to prevent others in my family and my community from dying of such preventable diseases. Yet, I was just a teenager, and I lacked both the resources and the answers. It felt impossible to imagine who among us could rise to the challenge of saving our loved ones and our community.

My turning point came during a career talk in high school. A team of health workers visited us, and as they spoke, the images of my family’s struggles and pain played vividly in my mind. I didn’t need any further convincing—this was my calling. I decided that day that I would dedicate my life to serving others by pursuing a career in the health field.

After finishing high school, my journey was far from easy. With no money for tuition, I stayed at home for two years, working manual jobs to raise enough funds to afford medical school. Those years were humbling, but they deepened my resolve. Living through the storms of health inequities, poor sanitation, food insecurity, and the pain of losing loved ones to preventable diseases, I came to understand the transformative power of public health. Public health is not just about treating illnesses—it is about preventing them. It is about giving everyone, even the most vulnerable, the chance to live a healthy, dignified life.

My experiences have shaped me into who I am today. Losing family members to HIV and cervical cancer, struggling through hardship, and witnessing the devastating effects of health inequities in my community instilled in me a profound sense of purpose. I realized that education could be the key to unlocking solutions and saving lives. That purpose drives me every day as I work towards becoming a force for change, so that no child in my village—or anywhere else—has to grow up watching their loved ones suffer from preventable diseases

Why did you decide to attend the UW for graduate school?

Growing up in a small village in Migori, Kenya, I witnessed firsthand how a lack of access to health care, safe sanitation, and reliable public health infrastructure can devastate lives and communities. My family's story is one of struggle but also resilience. Losing my eldest brother to HIV and my stepmother to cervical cancer—both preventable diseases—left an indelible mark on my life and inspired my commitment to public health. These experiences instilled in me a deep desire to create systemic change that addresses such inequities, not just for my family or my community but for vulnerable populations worldwide.

Through my years of professional experience, I worked tirelessly on HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer prevention, and tobacco cessation initiatives, serving some of the most underserved communities in Kenya. I coordinated HIV prevention and treatment efforts for over 40,000 individuals living with HIV in rural settings, integrated cervical cancer screening into more than 60 HIV clinics, and trained over 600 frontline healthcare workers. However, I realized that while these efforts could save lives, they were only addressing symptoms of deeper public health challenges rooted in inequity, systemic health gaps, and resource limitations. To create sustained change, I needed a foundational understanding of global health systems, the skills to address upstream determinants of health, and the expertise to lead comprehensive, data-driven interventions at scale.

The University of Washington's Master of Public Health in Global Health program stood out as the ideal platform to equip me with the tools I need to achieve this vision. The UW's commitment to health equity and its focus on evidence-based, multidisciplinary approaches to solving global health challenges align closely with my personal mission. The program’s emphasis on innovative epidemiological methods and practical applications in health systems resonates deeply with my current professional aspirations. More importantly, the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with globally recognized faculty and a diverse cohort of peers offers an unparalleled environment where ideas and partnerships can thrive.

The UW’s strategic role in global health leadership—whether through partnerships with institutions like the Gates Foundation or groundbreaking research in low- and middle-income countries—makes it uniquely positioned to prepare students like me to tackle some of the world’s most pressing health challenges. My background in designing and implementing health interventions in Kenya has taught me the importance of culturally responsive and community-driven solutions, and I believe that UW’s program will provide me the academic rigor to complement this practical experience. In addition, the UW’s focus on serving marginalized populations inspires a profound hope that through my time in the program, I can elevate my skills to create lasting change for underserved communities like mine.

Pursuing an master's in public health at the UW allows me to interweave my lived experiences, professional expertise, and personal passion with rigorous academic training. With the education, mentorship, and networks available at the UW, I am confident that I will be empowered to address global health challenges, focusing on equity and sustainability.

What are your research interests and career goals?

My academic journey is guided by a clear and ambitious pathway: to first complete my MPH studies and then pursue a Ph.D. in implementation science. My research interests center on critical areas of public health, including HIV/AIDS, cervical cancer prevention, and tobacco cessation. These issues are deeply personal to me, rooted in the challenges I witnessed and experienced in my community, where health inequities and preventable diseases claimed the lives of my loved ones.

My ultimate career aspiration is to prevent preventable diseases, strengthen fragile health systems, and inspire hope in resource-limited communities worldwide. This is more than a professional goal—this is a mission born out of my lived experiences, a moral obligation to address the systemic health disparities that have caused pain and loss in my family and countless underserved populations.

By leveraging the expertise and mentorship at the University of Washington, I aim to advance evidence-based, scalable health interventions that tackle these persistent public health challenges. From empowering frontline health care workers to conducting cutting-edge research and shaping sustainable health policies, I am determined to make a global impact. The tools I acquire through this journey will prepare me to serve vulnerable communities with innovative, practical, and compassionate solutions. I envision a future where no individual or family has to suffer from preventable diseases due to lack of access, awareness, or resources.

The University of Washington offers the ideal foundational platform for me to align my academic pursuits with my broader vision of creating sustainable change. This program will allow me to grow as a global health leader equipped not just with knowledge, but with the skills necessary to transform my passion into impactful action.

Did your award influence your decision to attend the UW?

As a research assistant at the START Center, my role has been instrumental in making it financially feasible for me to attend the University of Washington. While this position did not influence my decision to join the UW—my heart and mind were already firmly set on this institution—it has made my dream of studying here a reality by covering my tuition and providing for my upkeep. The START Center has not only supported me financially but also offered me an invaluable opportunity to contribute to impactful public health projects while cultivating the skills and experience that align with my long-term goals.

When you aren't studying, where is your favorite place to hangout in Seattle?

When I’m not immersed in my studies, I enjoy running along the Burke-Gilman Trail, which offers a perfect combination of tranquility and breathtaking views of Seattle’s beautiful surroundings. The nearby mountains are also a favorite escape for me, providing an inspiring and refreshing way to connect with nature and stay active. Additionally, as a deeply religious person, attending Sunday church services in Tacoma is a meaningful part of my routine. It helps me ground myself spiritually and recharge for the week ahead while fostering a sense of community and fellowship.