Yusto Julius Yona shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Yusto Julius, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Tanzanian Pharmaceutical Personel and Health Advocate
A normal day for me, is a purposeful blend of clinical precision, public health advocacy, and strategic learning. As a pharmaceutical personel specializing in oncology and infectious diseases, my work is deeply rooted in improving care systems and empowering communities.
I begin early, often reviewing treatment protocols, analyzing near miss, medication errors, drug interactions, or refining antimicrobial stewardship strategies. When I engage with research evaluating evidence based interventions, updating myself on global best practices, and aligning them with our local context. Whether it’s immunotherapy, targeted therapy, or occupational safety, I stay sharp and current.
By midday, I shift into outreach and communication. I might be preparing health education materials for students covering topics like HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, or non-communicable diseases or mentoring peers on pharmaceutical care standards. I also dedicate time to find different opportunities, developing institutional protocols, or drafting speeches that bridge science and community impact.
Later in the day, I reflect and expand. I explore international healthcare models, analyze supplier networks, or study scalable pharmaceutical systems that could benefit Tanzania and East Africa. I stay connected to global conversations while remaining grounded in the realities of our healthcare landscape.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Tanzanian healthcare professional with a mission to transform Pharmaceutical care across my country and East Africa in general. My work spans clinical practice, health education, and systems strengthening, with a strong foundation in evidence-based care and a passion for community empowerment.
With a focus on research, quality improvement, infectious Diseases and antimicrobial stewardship, I actively contributes to advancing pharmaceutical systems and treatment protocols. I am deeply involved in developing and implementing strategies that enhance patient safety, optimize medication use, and align global best practices with local realities.
Beyond the clinic, I am a strategic communicator and educator. I am designs and delivers impactful health education programs especially around HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and non-communicable diseases while mentoring peers and students to build a more resilient healthcare workforce.
My ability to bridge worlds, clinical and academic, local and global, technical and human. Whether by drafting a protocol, leading a training session, or analyzing different models like supply chain model, I brings clarity, compassion, and a systems thinking mindset to every challenge and this makes me very special and amazing.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Before I had the language to articulate my vision, before I fully understood the scale of my own potential, there were people and institutions who saw something in me something I was still learning to see in myself.
One of the most pivotal moments came with the opportunity to work at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital. It wasn’t just a job it was a proving ground. There, I encountered professionals who modeled excellence and integrity, but none more impactful than Mr. Kauke Bakari Zimbwe, the Chief Pharmacist at the time. He didn’t just supervise he mentored. He challenged me to think critically, to lead with purpose, and to see beyond the immediate task toward the broader systems we serve. His belief in my capacity helped me begin to believe in it too.
Another defining moment came when I was given the opportunity to engage with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. That experience opened my eyes to what world class oncology care and pharmaceutical standards could look like and more importantly, how it could be adapted to serve people in Tanzania and across East Africa. Their investment in me wasn’t just professional it was personal. They saw a change maker in the making, and they gave me the tools, exposure, and confidence to grow into that role.
These moments and the people behind me did more than open doors. They held up a mirror and reflected back a version of myself I hadn’t yet dared to imagine: a healthcare leader, a systems thinker, a bridge between global innovation and local transformation.
I carry their belief with me every day. It fuels my work in oncology, infectious diseases, research, quality improvement, antimicrobial stewardship, and health education. It reminds me that the clearest vision of ourselves often begins in the eyes of those who choose to see us fully before we’re ready to see it ourselves. I thank them all for the blessings.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You don’t have to have it all figured out yet your questions are not a weakness, they’re the beginning of your strength. Keep asking, keep learning, and trust that your purpose will meet you on the path. I love You so much!
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
This is a profound question, and one that touches on identity, authenticity, and the roles we play in different contexts.
We all present different versions of ourselves depending on the setting:
Public Self, This is the version of you that others see can be colleagues, students, community members, even social media followers. It’s often shaped by expectations, norms, and the roles you play (like being a health care personel, educator, or advocate).
Private Self, This is the internal you can be your thoughts, fears, dreams, and values that may not always be visible or shared.
So when answering to your question – Is the Public Me “Real”?
Yes But, The “real” me might be a blend not just what i show, but also what i feel and believe when no one’s watching. The public version of me is real in the sense that it reflects my choices, my values, and my actions. But it might be curated, filtered, or adapted to fit the situation. That doesn’t make it fake, it just means it’s one facet of a more complex whole.
Given to my work in oncology, infectious diseases, researcher, antimicrobial stewardship, public health, and education, my public self likely embodies my mission driven character. But there are moments perhaps in quiet reflection or personal struggle where my private self wrestles with questions, doubts, or dreams that don’t always surface publicly. That doesn’t make either version less real it just means my multidimensional.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Worrying about others’ opinions. Time is too precious to be shaped by fear of judgment. I’d focus on authenticity over approval.
Delaying meaningful conversations. I’d stop putting off telling people I love them, admire them, or need to forgive them. Emotional clarity would become urgent.
Chasing perfection. I’d stop over polishing, over thinking, and over planning. Done and meaningful would beat perfect and delayed.
Accumulating for the sake of it. I’d stop buying or hoarding things I don’t need. Experiences, not possessions, would take priority.
Neglecting my body and spirit. I’d stop ignoring rest, movement, and reflection. Health would become sacred, not optional.
Postponing dreams. I’d stop saying “someday.” If it matters, it starts now whether it’s writing that book, traveling, or launching a community
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamgreik?igsh=MXJiZWlyMGxweGx4dA==
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusto-yona-aa0511240?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
Image Credits
Yusto Julius Yona
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