#2023Trojan: Meet Riya Shah, Bachelor of Science in Global Health Graduate

Why did you choose to pursue your degree at USC?

I chose USC because I was excited about the inclusion of International Relations classes in the global health curriculum, as well as the wide variety of health promotion classes offered. The research component of the degree also meant I would get a chance to get hands-on experience in the public health field, which has been an amazing learning experience.

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?

Traveling to Washington D.C with members of the GRIT Lab and presenting our research at The Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH) conference, where I had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people working in global health and learn about the wide variety of research being done.

What course in the program did you enjoy the most and why?

HP 470: Case Studies in Global Health, was one of the most interesting global health classes I’ve taken. I really enjoyed learning about specific health issues and interventions all around the world. At the end of the class, we designed our own intervention in a culturally competent manner, which was a really fun way to practice all the skills we learned throughout the semester.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Be open to as many opportunities as you can find, you never know which one might spark your passion for the field!

What are you planning to do after graduation?

I will be attending Columbia University in the fall to pursue my Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management.