Healthcare today, whether in the United States or abroad, is constantly challenged to address disparities, adapt to diverse patient populations, and deliver equitable healthcare. Clinical and community leaders often face the daunting task of guiding healthcare systems towards more inclusive, patient-centered approaches. In a recent episode of the Clinicians in Leadership podcast series—hosted by Zachary McConnell, MHA, PA-S2 of the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy— Misker Kassahun Teka, MD, MPH, offered insights into the power of community outreach, the critical need to bridge the gap in healthcare, and how leadership can drive tangible change in underserved populations in healthcare.
Below, we explore Dr. Teka's inspiring journey, her experiences leading volunteer-based initiatives, and practical strategies she believes can strengthen healthcare systems around the globe, all while addressing the pressing issue of health equity.
When asked about her background, Dr. Teka introduced herself as a general practitioner who graduated in 2020 from St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College- SPHMMC in Ethiopia. She also holds a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, completed in 2024. But her story extends beyond her clinical training; it is deeply interwoven with community service and leadership roles focused on achieving equity in healthcare.
Shortly after completing medical school, Dr. Teka co-founded GIV Society Ethiopia, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free healthcare services to underserved populations. The organization's volunteer-based structure brings together clinicians, medical professionals, and various community members to host monthly campaigns that deliver free, comprehensive healthcare services. Beyond direct patient care, Dr. Teka has used her platform—on social media and beyond—to mentor and guide other healthcare professionals from low- and middle-income countries, drawing on her own experiences of navigating educational and professional pathways.
Dr. Teka's commitment to bridging disparities and promoting health equity gained further traction when she was selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship—an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of State—to learn about leadership and community-building in an American context. Stationed at Rutgers University for six weeks, she interacted with fellows from various African countries, mentors from U.S.-based organizations, and several high-profile public leaders. This experience sharpened her leadership skills and expanded her perspective on how community engagement can work effectively in resource-rich environments, while still addressing the health equity gap.
Dr. Teka's leadership philosophy crystallized while developing Giv Society Ethiopia. One of her earliest lessons was understanding how to motivate and sustain a volunteer workforce. Because volunteers are not incentivized by salary, fame, or other tangible rewards, effective leadership must tap into a shared sense of mission and personal conviction.
"Leadership becomes a bit more challenging when you work with volunteers. … You don't incentivize someone based on money. … You lead based on the cause or goal that unites you."
In her experience, sustaining volunteer engagement hinged on leading with intention and ensuring that everyone involved understood the vision—to bring free, quality healthcare to those who would not otherwise have access. That clarity of purpose, she observed, helps build strong communal bonds and fosters a culture of mutual respect, essential for achieving equity in healthcare.
Moreover, Dr. Teka credits the low-resource environment in Ethiopia with enhancing her creativity and problem-solving skills. Budget constraints required her team to think outside the box, leveraging in-kind donations, forging partnerships, and relying on strong community ties to offset costs. In many ways, this approach to leadership underscores the importance of collaboration and partnership—two elements that remain critical even in more resource-rich environments like the United States, especially when addressing health disparities in underserved populations.
When asked to compare the Ethiopian and American healthcare systems, Dr. Teka was quick to point out the obvious disparities in resources. Still, she believes there are practices in Ethiopia that could greatly benefit healthcare in the United States—particularly in addressing underserved populations and promoting health equity.
One standout example is the health extension workers programin Ethiopia. Recognizing that certain communities lack access to care, health extension workers bring services directly to people's homes. They offer preventive care, health promotion, and even some basic curative services.
"You do have disparities in the United States, and there are underserved communities that can benefit from this kind of model, where you actually reach out to the community rather than waiting for the community to come to you."
This insight is especially relevant in rural areas, low-income communities, and places where cultural or linguistic barriers deter people from seeking medical attention in formal settings. Dr. Teka also highlighted how essential it is to listen to communities about the types of services they most desperately need. By involving local stakeholders and directly engaging with the population, healthcare organizations can tailor interventions that resonate with specific communities—whether that means offering free screening events or addressing prevalent conditions in a culturally sensitive manner, ultimately improving health outcomes for underserved populations.
Throughout the podcast conversation, one of Dr. Teka's recurring themes was the power and simplicity of listening. She pointed out that, whether as a direct-care clinician or a policy-oriented healthcare leader, the most effective way to understand a patient or community is often to ask questions and truly hear the answers, a crucial step in bridging the gap in healthcare.
As a clinician, she found that listening carefully to patients' stories, beliefs, and symptoms frequently led to the correct diagnosis or the most appropriate treatment plan—sometimes even before relying on more advanced diagnostic tools. This same approach proved effective in her public health ventures. At Giv Society Ethiopia, Dr. Teka's team made it standard practice to visit target communities a week or two before a major medical campaign. They would speak with local leaders and residents to gauge the community's most pressing health concerns, beliefs around prevention, and preferred communication methods.
"We don't just come and say, 'We're going to do breast cancer screening or routine vaccinations.' We first go and ask, 'What do you need?' Most of the time, people will tell you exactly what they need and even how best to help them."
This step, though seemingly basic, is too often overlooked in healthcare delivery systems that prioritize efficiency or rely on assumptions about what a given community should want. By centering on the voices of patients and community members, leaders can create healthcare strategies that are both more effective and more equitable, addressing the social determinants of health that often contribute to health disparities.
Healthcare teams are increasingly diverse, comprising individuals from different cultures, professional backgrounds, and educational paths. Dr. Teka emphasized that collaboration and inclusivity cannot be taken for granted. Instead, healthcare leaders must take deliberate steps to foster environments where varied perspectives are not only welcomed but leveraged to improve patient outcomes and promote health equity.
A key step is to maintain a shared vision at the forefront. Whether the goal is to reduce local rates of hypertension or build a new clinic, the unifying purpose should remain central. Equally important is recognizing that cultural norms shape communication styles, decision-making processes, and interpersonal dynamics. Rather than dismissing or judging these differences, Dr. Teka encourages healthcare professionals to be curious and open, emphasizing the importance of cultural competency.
"First, try to understand that the person might do something because of their culture, their upbringing, or how they see the world. You have to value that perspective. It might lead you to a new solution you hadn't considered."
In practice, this inclusivity can mean offering translation services for patients with limited English proficiency, creating mentorship programs that address the unique challenges of international medical graduates, or establishing diversity councils that advise on how best to serve marginalized populations. These efforts contribute to improving health literacy and ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all.
Perhaps Dr. Teka's strongest message was on the moral responsibility that healthcare leaders hold—particularly those in positions of privilege. Many underserved populations simply do not have the resources, political voice, or institutional power to advocate for themselves. Consequently, leaders can and should work to ensure healthcare delivery reaches these groups and addresses their unique needs, effectively helping underserved communities and narrowing the health equity gap.
"They're vulnerable, they don't have resources, so they're often forgotten. … It's not someone else's job to address this. It's our job as healthcare leaders."
That advocacy starts with acknowledging one's own privilege and recognizing that, while systemic change takes time, local interventions can happen quickly. Whether it's setting up mobile clinics, ensuring that telemedicine options are culturally sensitive, or training staff to identify and address bias, Dr. Teka argues that leaders must move beyond theoretical discussions and commit to actionable steps for equitable healthcare delivery.
Dr. Teka's vision for the future of healthcare leadership is rooted in collaboration, community engagement, and a steadfast commitment to health equity. By building off both her experience in Ethiopia and her leadership training in the United States, she offers a blueprint for leaders on how to design healthcare systems that truly serve all. The key lessons revolve around:
Ultimately, Dr. Teka's commitment to bridging gaps and promoting health equity offers a refreshing reminder that meaningful change often starts with the simplest acts—like knocking on someone's door, asking questions, and genuinely listening to the answers. In a world shaped by evolving healthcare challenges, socio-political issues, and cultural complexities, leaders who prioritize community-based care and inclusive collaboration can chart a more equitable, effective path forward, improving access to care and overall health outcomes for all populations.
About the Podcast
The Clinicians in Leadership podcast series, hosted by Zach Mcconnell for the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy, aims to shine a light on clinicians who translate their bedside experience into transformative leadership roles. Guests share their strategies for inspiring teams, shaping health policy, and, ultimately, improving patient care across diverse healthcare landscapes. Dr. Misker Kassahun Teka's story illustrates just how powerful these efforts can be—offering a tangible, hope-filled framework for anyone looking to make a difference in healthcare and address health inequities.
For more insights from visionary clinicians like Dr. Teka, keep an eye on the Clinicians in Leadership series and other programming from the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy. Transforming healthcare systems is no small task, but with the lessons of equity, collaboration, and community engagement, leaders at every level can help usher in a more inclusive, patient-centered era of care, ultimately improving health outcomes and ensuring equal access to healthcare for all.
