Student Perspective | November 27, 2024
Keisha Carisse P. Mangalili, MD, is a general practitioner and passionate advocate for health system improvement in the Philippines. A first-year student in Harvard Medical School’s Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery program, Mangalili brings a wealth of experience from her work as the program manager for food security, nutrition, and universal health care at Angat Buhay in the Philippines. Her journey to Harvard is deeply rooted in her commitment to addressing the systemic gaps she observed throughout her medical career.
Prior to joining the program, Mangalili graduated from the University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine in 2019. Though she initially planned to take a year off after earning her medical degree, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shifted her priorities. Mangalili returned to the hospital to provide critical support and later joined the Office of the Vice President of the Philippines to help launch the Bayanihan E-Konsulta program. This telemedicine initiative, which she helped design and manage, provided care to COVID-19 patients while offering mobile laboratory tests and monitoring kits.
Working on Bayanihan E-Konsulta helped Mangalili realize the extent of the barriers that patients face in accessing health care. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, we would receive patients who would tell us that was the first time they got to talk to a doctor, even if there were health facilities around.”
These medical gaps in the primary care system are what inspired Mangalili to seek solutions by earning a master’s degree. Although initially unsure about pursuing a research-focused program, she recognized the lack of published data on health system challenges in her country.
“We have the stories about how we lived through the experiences, but it’s very difficult for us to find publications or data on what we were experiencing to support our patients.” She realized that by gaining research skills and a deeper understanding of health delivery systems, she could advocate for meaningful change.
Mangalili credits her introduction to the Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery program to a colleague and friend, Janine Robredo, a member of the program’s class of 2024. Robredo encouraged her to apply, calling it “a perfect fit” for her goals.
With her first semester nearly completed, Mangalili’s proposed thesis focuses on understanding the factors influencing the utilization of Konsulta Package-accredited facilities under the Philippines’ universal health care initiative. These facilities aim to expand access to outpatient primary care through the country’s national health insurance system. Her research seeks to identify barriers and propose actionable strategies to improve health outcomes.
“During the pandemic, I realized that the Philippines doesn’t have a strong primary care system. That’s why we were seeing primary care cases in hospitals.” By focusing on the Konsulta Package, she hopes to support the government’s universal health care goals and help create sustainable models for primary care delivery.
With guidance from her mentor, Peter Rohloff, MD, PhD, associate professor of global health and social medicine at Harvard Medical School, Mangalili has refined her research methodology and gained clarity on the next steps. “Dr. Rohloff has been really helpful in how I go about my research. I felt stuck early on in the process, because I didn’t know where to start. I’ve been communicating with him regularly to discuss my thesis project.”
Despite being introverted, Mangalili says that one of the most surprising and rewarding aspects of the program has been engaging with her diverse cohort. “It’s very encouraging to be in a group where we speak the same language, even if we come from different countries, different backgrounds, different cultures. We all have this idea that we’re united in, which is to improve health care delivery for everyone, not just certain populations.”
For Mangalili, these diverse perspectives influence how she approaches her thesis and the work she aims to continue in the Philippines.
For those considering the Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery program, Mangalili offers encouraging advice: “Go for it. Even if you think you know everything about your community, there’s always room to grow. This program provides opportunities to explore new ideas and connect with people from other countries who have faced similar challenges. It’s a chance to learn from each other and find solutions together.”