Blen Abelachew
Blen Alebachew is a junior at Salem College studying Public Health and Business Administration with a minor in Data Science. She is passionate about issues affecting women and addressing health disparities to improve healthcare outcomes. Blen hopes to pursue graduate studies at the intersection of population health, health equity, healthcare access, and policy.
Through the SUMR program, Blen works on two research projects. She works with Dr. Jaya Aysola on a Learning Health System (LHS) project focused on integrating quality improvement and health equity. She also works with Dr. Shana Stites on research examining care pathways and systemic disparities in Alzheimer’s disease healthcare using de-identified electronic health record (EHR) data within Penn Medicine.
At Salem, Blen is an active member of several student organizations and serves as both an exam co-chair and peer tutor. She is also the social media manager for the Salem College International Students Association. Beyond campus, she advocates for women, children, ethnic minorities, and marginalized communities in Ethiopia through awareness and outreach efforts. In her free time, Blen enjoys scenic drives, hiking, watching movies, and reading.