She studies the political economy of development assistance for health with a regional focus on eastern and southern Africa. Her research interests include the politics of global health policymaking; the effectiveness of development assistance for health; and the impact of such assistance on clientelism, patronage, and civil society development. In Ethiopia, she is actively developing a portfolio of projects that study the quality and responsiveness of midwifery care in the country. She has a PhD in Health Services and Policy Analysis from the University of California, Berkeley and has managed and provided technical assistance for international HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment programs in Burma (Myanmar), Madagascar, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Malawi, and Tanzania.