PHS Insider - Azza Mashumba

| 24 March 2026

“Treating one patient at a time is meaningful, but public health allows you to reach a much larger population.”

For Azza Mashumba, the road to Queen’s University has been a long one, spanning continents and decades of practicing medicine. Now, as a student in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program with a specialization in Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) at Queen’s University, and the recipient of the 2025 IPAC Canada Admission Scholarship, she brings a wealth of international experience and a lifelong commitment to patient care.

After leaving Sudan at a young age, Azza spent much of her youth in Nairobi, Kenya, where she completed her early education before pursuing medical school in Uganda. She later settled in Zimbabwe, where she lived for nearly two decades and worked as a pediatrician. During her time in Zimbabwe, she worked extensively in a clinical setting and was involved in various administrative roles within hospital administration and the Pediatric Association of Zimbabwe.

Although Azza found her work in clinical practice incredibly fulfilling, over time, she felt drawn toward addressing health issues on a broader scale, beyond individual patient care.

“Treating one patient at a time is meaningful, but public health allows you to reach a much larger population.”

Through her exploration of various MPH programs, Queen’s stood out the most, because of its unique Infection Prevention and Control specialization. Unlike most other programs, the IPAC program offered her the opportunity to bring clinical experience and population health principles to address infectious disease prevention.

“Something that really interested me about the program was that infectious diseases were something that I was constantly exposed to in my clinical environment,” she reflects. “Hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance were big challenges in the hospitals that I was working in.”

Since entering the program, Azza has found the IPAC program both challenging and eye-opening. One aspect of the program that surprised her was how extensively infection prevention is embedded within the healthcare system.

“You might be looking at the airflow systems in the hospital, the pipes behind the walls, or the way patients move through the hospital. All of those factors play a role in the risk of infections.”

Her interest in infection prevention wasn’t just academic; it grew directly out of her clinical experience. One career-defining moment occurred while she was working in a neonatal unit that was facing a serious hospital-acquired infection outbreak among highly vulnerable patients. The response required a multidisciplinary investigation involving engineers, nurses, and epidemiologists, and implementing the team’s recommendations led to dramatic improvements in patient outcomes, demonstrating the power of system intervention. The COVID-19 pandemic was another significant event that reinforced this perspective, emphasizing the importance of infection control systems in healthcare and the need for professionals who understand both clinical practice and public health.

As part of her MPH program, Azza plans to complete a practicum at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She is excited about the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the Canadian healthcare system and learn how infection control programs operate within large hospital settings. After graduation, she hopes to continue building her career in IPAC while also remaining involved in clinical medicine and pursuing her long-term goal of moving into leadership positions in IPAC.

For Azza, the MPH IPAC program represents the next step in a long career dedicated to improving patient care, providing the opportunity to combine her clinical experience with a broader vision for healthcare systems. Through infection prevention and public health, she hopes to translate her years of clinical experience into system-level improvements that protect patients and strengthen healthcare systems.

Reflecting on her experience at Queen’s, she describes the MPH program as an incredibly supportive environment. She particularly values the diversity of the student cohort and the collaborative nature of the program. Her advice to future students, particularly those returning to school later in their careers, is simple: don’t be afraid to ask questions, because “that makes a huge difference when you’re learning something new.” She carries these values into her personal life as well, as she enjoys exploring Canadian culture and meeting new people. One of her favourite discoveries so far has been ice wine, a delicious and rare dessert wine originally from Germany but found in abundance in Canada due to the climate.

Written by: Michelle Yoo

Edited by: Isabella Tsan and Surabhi Velagala

Master of Public Health

Student

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PHS Insider - Azza Mashumba

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