Why did you choose the Yale School of Public Health?
I chose the Yale School of Public Health due to its multidisciplinary nature and small student:faculty ratio. I particularly loved that I could take classes in other graduate schools, like the Yale School of Management (SOM). Also, the generous financial aid offered by YSPH was pivotal in achieving my graduate study plans.
What were you doing before enrolling at YSPH?
Before enrolling at YSPH, I worked as a pharmacist in a hospital setting for close to three years. My roles involved working with other health care professionals—such as physicians and nurses—as well as hospital administrators to ensure that both in-patients and out-patients received the right medications at the right time and in the right dose. I was also involved in specific roles like overseeing the cold chain system of the hospital pharmacy units and stores and generating monthly reports of the system's performance.
The summer internship allowed me to apply the skills and knowledge that I had acquired over my first year of study in classes like biostatistics and epidemiology.
What are your favorite aspects of the YSPH academic program?
My favorite aspect of the YSPH academic program is the flexibility built into the curriculum. I love that students have the liberty of taking several electives that aren't tied to their department. This creates room to explore other interests, especially for students like me, whose interests are ever-changing and aren't set in stone.
What was your most impactful experience outside of class?
My most impactful experience outside of class will have to be the summer internship and case competitions. The summer internship allowed me to apply the skills and knowledge that I had acquired over my first year of study in classes like biostatistics and epidemiology. Participating in case competitions also shaped my interests in some way—I love conducting research on broad topics and designing insights-packed presentations aimed at solving preidentified problems and driving innovation in the health care space.
Do you have a favorite Yale place or New Haven food?
My favorite New Haven food has to be the Mediterranean food trucks right across the School of Medicine. That's the closest thing to the food I'm used to in my home country.
What do you hope to do after graduation?
Honestly, I don't know for certain at the moment. For some reason, I always dread this question as my interests are forever in a state of flux. I definitely have some interest in health care administration/management and life sciences consulting, but I'm curious as to how my interests will shift as I approach my final semester at YSPH.