“The two weeks I spent at a state hospital in Nigeria watching midwives and doctors struggle to save lives in a hospital without reliable electricity inspired me to start a non-profit and become an advocate for renewable energy for global health care.”
Laura Stachel MD, MPH ’06 is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist who identified the link between energy poverty and maternal mortality. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of We Care Solar, a non-profit improving maternal and child health care by making solar power simple and accessible. Their ‘We Care Solar Suitcase’ is a complete solar electric and lighting kit for maternal health centers used in mobile and permanent applications. The Solar Suitcase has reached 3,000 health centers in 25 countries, improving the delivery of emergency obstetric care on a global scale.
Secrets for success
Public health problems are interdisciplinary and need to be approached in collaboration with many partners, incorporating lessons from many fields.
“Berkeley moment”
My greatest moment was being invited to join an observational research project on maternal mortality. The two weeks I spent at a state hospital in Nigeria watching midwives and doctors struggle to save lives in a hospital without reliable electricity inspired me to start a non-profit and become an advocate for renewable energy for global health care.
A change to one U.S. policy that would transform public health
Universal health care with an emphasis on prevention, including good nutrition and exercise.
Honoree in the Media:
- CNN Heroes 2013 – Top 10 CNN Hero: Dr. Laura Stachel
- Laura Stachel: A Solar Solution to Save Women’s Lives in Nigeria
- UN Sustainable Development Goals: Saving lives through solar innovation
