The Voice of Emerging World Leaders at BU School of Public Health
When I was younger, I always wondered how it would feel to live in someone else's shoes. But, in a way, the last ten years felt just like that – living the life of a completely different person. I have never identified as disabled for the first 25 years of my life although my condition […]
My grandmothers have been constant and continual supporters in my life. They both prioritized and worked to develop relationships with me, whether that meant helping me with my homework or spending time together taking long walks in the woods, visiting museums, or swimming at the beach. They have been bright and vibrant, quick with a […]
During my undergraduate and master’s degrees, I fell into the somewhat expected routine of working every day of the week. My peers were doing it, my mentors were doing it, and it would have been highly difficult to keep up with my coursework and grades with any other approach. So, right up until the end […]
I come from India, shaped by a culture and education system where success is often defined by individual achievement. Growing up, I learned that leadership meant standing out, taking charge, working independently and proving your capability through personal effort. Being a strong, self-reliant leader was seen as the ultimate goal. When I moved to the […]
Leading up my first semester as a DrPH student at the Boston University School of Public Health, I was jittery with excitement and nerves. I looked forward to diving back into the school routine, eager for a change from the doldrums of the 9-5 lifestyle. I planned my commuting route from Providence to Boston and […]
As Director of Planning and Health Financing in the Ministry of Health Rwanda, I thought I had reached the top of my career path, in my comfort zone with all the respect and praises around me. But I was uncomfortable. I had a purpose: to ensure that the population has access to high-quality care without […]
In late fall 2024, I came across a Nature Careers article titled “I had three children during my PhD: here’s what I learnt.” I had never met the author, but reading it felt like talking to a friend who finally saw me for who I was in that moment - a mom, a student, and […]
As a global health practitioner, I am champion of community-led, locally driven, research and programming. My doctoral dissertation challenges this notion, as I complete research in a new context as an outsider. Prior to September 2025, I had never visited Zambia. Naturally, as I write this reflection, I recall my very first trip to Africa […]