# Nursing PhD student wins U of T Sustainable Development Goal Graduate Award

**Source**: https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/media/nursing-phd-student-wins-u-of-t-sustainable-development-goal-graduate-award/
**Parent**: https://bloomberg.nursing.utoronto.ca/news/

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25 February 2026

Getu Mosisa Kebebew, a PhD student at the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, has received a [2026 Sustainable Development Goal Graduate Award](https://sdg.utoronto.ca/research-themes/2026-student-awards-program-winners/) from [SDGs@UofT](https://sdg.utoronto.ca/the-17-sdgs/).

The award recognizes his research focus and its alignment with four UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are part of the [2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development](https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda) adopted by all member nations of the UN in 2015.

PhD student Getu Kebebew. Photo by Rebecca Biason

“It is an honour to receive this award, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who encouraged me to apply especially my supervisor Professor Monica Parry. Her mentorship and guidance have been invaluable to me,” says Kebebew, “This recognition motivates me to contribute meaningfully to my own professional growth and future career.”

Kebebew’s research examines the feasibility and effectiveness of community-informed, family interventions to address hypertension management in individuals living in Ethiopia.

“Cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries” he says, “and nearly one in five Ethiopian adults have hypertension.”

Kebebew’s research aligns with SDG #3 Good Health and Well-being, #5 Gender Equality, #10 Reduced Inequalities and #17 Partnership for Goals, by fostering collaboration between individuals with hypertension, healthcare providers, and family members.

Poor self-care practices and a lack of awareness can lead to uncontrolled hypertension and [previous studies](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X25001389) have shown that more than half of those diagnosed with hypertension in Ethiopia do not achieve their target blood pressure.

Kebebew says that a recent systematic review has found that family support can significantly improve blood pressure control, but there have been no such studies conducted in low-income countries like Ethiopia, making his research a vital to help address the problem.

“Families are essential in helping individuals adhere to treatment plans and adopt and maintain healthy behaviours. Especially in communities within Ethiopia, where families share communal meals, partnership and collaboration with all members of the family unit and community. They will be integral to addressing hypertension outcomes,” says Kebebew.

Findings from his research will inform the implementation of a randomized controlled trial to optimize hypertension management in Ethiopia, with the possibility of extending to other low-income countries.

Kebebew is looking forward to attending the International Behavioural Trials Network (IBTN) 2026 Summer Program in Montreal in May, and the Global Cardiovascular Nursing Leadership Forum in Amsterdam in October where he will continue to collaborate with experts and strengthen his research skills in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases.

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