In 2022, Dr. Rose Nabi Deborah Karimi Muthuri, 24, made history as the youngest person to earn a PhD from the University of Pretoria’s (UP) School of Health Systems and Public Health within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
She achieved this remarkable milestone with a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Systems, making her Kenya’s youngest female PhD holder.
Reflecting on the accomplishment, Muthuri shared on the university website that earning her PhD is one of the defining moments of her academic journey.
“I hope this will inspire more young people to pursue their dreams. It was an extremely challenging journey, but also a blessing and a dream come true,” she said.
Muthuri’s doctoral thesis focuses on the crucial issue of healthcare worker well-being, a topic she is passionate about.
“I realized that there was a gap in the positive mental health aspects among the health workforce, and chose to pursue a PhD in health systems to gain an in-depth understanding of these workers and their well-being,” she explained.
Muthuri aims to use her research to improve healthcare system performance by addressing the mental health and wellness of those who provide care.
Her academic background includes a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, both from the United States International University-Africa (USIU) in Kenya, where she graduated at the top of her class.
Muthuri attributes much of her success to the concept of self and a deep faith.
“The idea is never to lose one’s concept of self, because that is what makes an individual unique. Putting God first keeps me motivated and inspired to contribute to improving the health and well-being of others,” she said.
