“Who’s in CHARGE?” spotlights a member of the AAMC Collaborative for Health Equity: Act, Research, Generate Evidence (CHARGE), a forum for investigators, clinicians, and community partners who design and implement research and policies that eliminate health and health care inequities. Today we’re featuring Timnit Berhane, MPH, outreach director at the Susan Lasker Brody Center for Population Mental Health at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. Connect with Timnit on LinkedIn.
Why is now the right time for us all to work together on health equity?
While we have unprecedented opportunities to reach people with health information, mis- and disinformation are growing at an equal pace. Building bilateral trust with communities is critical to deliver not just accurate information, but accessible resources, and that requires a collective effort across sectors. Health equity isn’t solely a public health issue; it affects everyone, because our neighbors’ well-being directly impacts our own.
What health equity project are you most proud of or excited about?
I am currently exploring what epistemic pluralism looks like within African mental well-being spaces across the diaspora. Often what gets mislabeled as “stigma” or “care reluctance” is actually a fundamental mismatch in how care is preferred and experienced. For many, healing occurs within the community or carries a vital spiritual component, approaches that conventional evidence-based strategies frequently overlook.
Do you have any health equity heroes?
My health equity hero is my dad, who led the Eritrean Ministry of Health and deeply inspired my career path and aspirations. Long before I was exposed to formal academic theories, I witnessed health equity in action through his work. That foundational experience serves as my compass: Health equity must be demonstrated through tangible action, not just confined to research and needs assessments.
What health equity or social justice issue do you think deserves more attention than it gets right now?
Immigrant health, specifically addressing the harmful, stigmatizing rhetoric surrounding immigrant communities. Beyond driving immediate delays in care, this climate creates a severe chilling effect that will have long-term, compounding health consequences for generations to come.
Do you have an immediate research collaboration need?
At the Susan Lasker Brody Center for Population Mental Health, we are working to transform how mental health is understood, researched, and addressed, through multi-sectoral partnerships. Whether your background is in technology, the arts, sports, or another field, we invite you to join our collaborative to ideate and drive this work forward with us. Feel free to send me a message!
What’s the first concert you ever went to?
The first concert I remember truly captivating me was Yemi Alade's. She is an extraordinary performer who connects effortlessly with her audience. She brought her songs to life like a story, and I can still vividly recall the vibrant colors, the incredible energy in the room, and the seamless flow of the dancers.
You can meet other health equity champions like Timnit in the AAMC CHARGE virtual community. Interested in nominating yourself or a colleague for a future Who’s in CHARGE? member spotlight?