Sima Bou Jawde, PhD ’27

Sima Bou Jawde (she/هي) is a PhD student in Population Health at Northeastern University, leading mixed methods research on social structure as affecting the mental health of migrants and people of color in the United States and globally. She combines intersectional theory with epidemiological methodology to expand population and global health research. Her research surveys economic precarity and migration stress as affecting family functioning and wellbeing. Sima is empowered by her mission to combine theory with the practical, while elevating the voices of local community on the ground to uphold health equity. She holds an MPH from Boston University School of Public Health.

We asked Sima to tell us a little bit about herself and her experience as a Fellow at the Leah Zallman Center:

My name is Sima Bou Jawde, and I am a PhD student in Population Health at Northeastern University. I heard about the Leah Zallman Center when Dr. Santos gave a talk at my university, and I instantly knew this was a place I would like to work in! Leveraging my own research in structural determinants for immigrant health, LZC bridges theory with practicality as it drives equitable health for migrants in Massachusetts and beyond. I found myself among a team that is extremely welcoming and supportive, and we worked together to draft the forthcoming issue brief on intersectionality, or a framework in thinking about immigrant health. This framework is important in population health, and specifically immigrant health, because it allows us to understand the complexity and nuances of multiple layers of power and privilege which may affect lived experiences of migrants. This way, we can better tailor interventions, programs and policies to suit the need of all migrants, while taking into consideration gender, class and race. LZC is at the nexus of combining evidence-based research while uplifting community voices, and I am honored to be part of this team as a fellow! I am very much looking forward to seeing the impact the dedicated LZC team will drive in pushing forth a structural and social justice agenda for immigrant health.