Research Associate
Medical-Education Partnership Initiative
Milken Institute School of Public Health
George Washington University
Washington, D.C.

What is your background?

I am originally from New Delhi, India. I earned my bachelor’s degree in dental surgery from Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Maharashtra, India. I then received my license from the Indian Dental Association, which permitted me to practice in New Delhi, India, for two years, until I was accepted at NDSU to pursue a Master of Public Health degree, with a focus on health promotion.

How did the NDSU MPH program prepare you for the workforce?

During my dental practice, I had a strong interest in developing and administering oral health education programs for people from various backgrounds. I organized dental camps in rural areas because I always aspired to be associated with efforts that brought positive change in the quality of healthcare services. The NDSU MPH program helped me gain further skills to design, implement and evaluate successful public health programs and policies for underserved communities. The program equipped me to practice in many public health environments, such as government, nonprofit and private sectors. 

NDSU's health promotion electives allowed me to grow insight on techniques and skills specific to needs assessments, data analysis, evaluation methods and application of behavioral theories and models to various public health settings. I learned from faculty who have years of experience in public health practice and are well connected with the community. 

The curriculum is designed to give students practical experience. I had a valuable internship at the National Rural Health Association, in Washington, D.C., a national nonprofit membership organization that advocates for rural health. I attended various Senate hearings and national conferences organized by Kaiser Permanente and the National Alliance for Health Reform.

What is your current position or academic pursuit?

I joined the Medical-Education Partnership Initiative as a research associate at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University. The initiative is funded by the U.S. government to enhance the health care capacity of about a dozen African countries. I look forward to advancing my interest in public health policy and global health, and bringing together all the learning experiences that the MPH program at NDSU provided me.