Isabella Schultz: Merging anthropology and public health to impact maternal outcomes

For my Ph.D., I’m focusing on the lived experiences of pregnant women—how they make decisions about care, where they choose to deliver and how they interact with doctors. I also examine how doctors navigate ethical dilemmas in resource-limited settings. My research is based in the Rukwa region, which has a high maternal mortality ratio, and I’m particularly interested in how the setting shapes health care access and outcomes.

What have your studies revealed so far?

One clear trend is that insurance utilization in Tanzania is low—about 15% as of 2021, and even lower among women.

It’s unclear how the new Health Insurance Act will affect women’s health care access. Ideally, it will increase antenatal care visits. The World Health Organization recommends at least eight antenatal visits, but many Tanzanian women don’t reach that number.  

However, insurance is just one factor. Many other barriers affect access to biomedical care, so it’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds.

How has learning Kiswahili influenced your work?

It’s had a huge impact. Learning Kiswahili has been a rewarding challenge, and it’s taken years to reach my current proficiency. I wouldn’t say I’m fluent yet, but I’m happy with my progress.

More importantly, speaking the language has helped me build meaningful relationships. I’ve lived with host families whom I still talk to weekly. They’ve welcomed me into their lives—I’ve attended baby showers and family events, and Tanzania has become a home away from home.

Tanzanians take pride in their Kiswahili, especially in Zanzibar, where they say you’ll find the purest form of the language.

Let’s talk about the Open Graduate Education program. What initially drew you to it?

When applying to Ph.D. programs, I specifically looked for universities that would allow me to earn an MPH alongside my Ph.D. I’ve always admired medical anthropologists who integrate public health into their work, and I wanted to develop both qualitative and quantitative research skills.

Brown’s Anthropology Department stood out because it values interdisciplinary training. The Open Graduate Education program made it possible for me to get the methodological skills I wanted while pursuing my Ph.D.

What challenges have you faced balancing both degrees?

It’s definitely a lot. Anthropology has one of the heaviest Ph.D. course loads at Brown, and the MPH is also an intense program. I didn’t realize that until I started, but the Open Graduate Education program administrators pointed it out right away.

From day one, I’ve had to be extremely organized—planning every semester carefully, keeping track of course schedules and making sure requirements align. 

The biggest academic challenge has been shifting between anthropology and public health perspectives. Anthropology is highly theoretical, while public health is more data-driven. Even the research methods differ—learning biostatistics, for example, has been particularly challenging because it’s such a different skill set from qualitative analysis. 

But I enjoy the contrast. It’s rewarding to bring anthropology insights into public health discussions and vice versa.

What advice would you give to students considering this dual-degree path?

First, ask yourself why you want the second degree. A Ph.D. is already a huge commitment, so the additional degree should add something significant to your training. 

For me, the MPH enhances my job prospects in academia, government and the private sector. It also makes me a stronger researcher by providing both qualitative and quantitative skills. But you have to be clear on what value the second degree brings.