Today we are joined by Dr. Tsion Firew an emergency physician, a fierce advocate for global health equity, and a dedicated humanitarian whose work has taken her from the frontlines of emergency rooms in New York City to crisis zones around the world.
Tsion is currently the Chair of Emergency Medicine at Africa Health Sciences University & King Faisal Hospital in Rwanda, a Senior Advisor overseeing Emergency Medical Services at the Ministry of Health in Rwanda and an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at New York University. Tsion also served for 6 years as a Senior Advisor to Ethiopia’s Minister of Health.
She has been recognized by Medscape as one of the “10 Women in Medicine You Need to Follow”.
She is an inspiring advocate for high-quality global emergency medicine, universal health coverage, and women’s leadership in healthcare. Let’s dive in …
Key moments in the podcast:
00:00 Introduction and Personal Journey
00:31 Welcome to the Forks in the Road Podcast
01:07 Meet Dr. Tsion Firew
02:46 Balancing Motherhood and Global Health Leadership
04:30 Cultural Influences: Ethiopia and New York
08:20 Lessons from Crisis Zones
10:38 COVID-19 and Public Health Advocacy
15:56 Educational Journey and Career Path
24:16 Facing the Marburg Virus Outbreak
33:54 Future Aspirations and Leadership
38:49 Closing Remarks and Next Episode Preview
Here is what stays with us from this conversation:
Humanity Unites Us Above All Differences.
Look beyond surface-level divisions to find common ground.
Recognize the universal desire for peace and belongingness.
Understand that we all bleed the same red blood.
Balance Is Achieved by Finding Gratification in All Roles.
View different life roles (work, family) as an antidote to one another, offering recharge and refocus.
Seek out opportunities in work that are both gratifying and challenging to maintain momentum.
Sustain energy by moving between different work aspects: clinical work, research, and policy.
A Leader’s Duty Is to Infiltrate the Information Space.
Recognize the necessity for clinicians and scientists to actively infiltrate media spaces to share reality.
Step up to be a voice for what is happening in hospitals.
Use public health training to teach the community.
True Collaboration Thrives When Ego is Absent.
Focus on a common goal and put aside personal or institutional egos to achieve maximum impact.
Be ready to implement good ideas quickly when evidence supports them, such as bringing in experimental drugs during a crisis.
Witness the power of unified effort, as demonstrated during the Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda.
Take Calculated Risks:
Nothing improves if you don’t step outside of your comfort zone.
Be thankful and grateful for the opportunities you have.
Embrace Vulnerability:
Be vulnerable to show your humanity.
Make vulnerability an integral part of your decision-making.
Making decisions with your heart will help you push through.
Leverage Mentorship Wisely:
Seek out multiple mentors for various aspects of your life.
Lean into mentors when faced with difficult decisions.
The best thing is learning from their mistakes so you don’t have to make them.
Sustaining the Long Haul:
Rewarding yourself with a trip or achievement after major milestones to make the long journey tolerable and gratifying.
Connect with Tsion Firew
Further Reading:
When Science and Courage Meet Crisis: Dr. Tsion Firew and the Battle Against Marburg Virus in Rwanda
A bold doctor sent her kids away and helped beat one of the world’s deadliest viruses
Listen to this podcast on Spotify or Apple or subscribe to it on Substack. We would love it if you would leave us a comment, screenshot the episode and tag us on social, and share this episode with your community so that they can better navigate their forks in the road.
This is an original podcast by Flyntrok. We help organisations, communities and individuals change and adapt to a new world. You will Find Flyntrok on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.
Hosted by Stephen Berkeley and Anne Boland
Produced by Rajeev Nedumaran of Studior.
Music by Damian Smith of Bespoke Music.
Art work by Ben Tibbin of Mozmo Creative and
Social Media Creations by Alana Rauert of Muse Communications.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this episode were those of the hosts and the guest, not of any entity they work for or with.
