Name: Anisa Amiji
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2025
What does public health mean to you? Public health is the core of high-quality clinical medicine.
When did you know you wanted to purse a career in Maternal and Child Health? When pursuing my undergraduate degree at Northeastern University, I took classes like Gender and Reproductive Justice, Biology of Human Reproduction, Human Trafficking, etc. After taking those courses, I realized I only wanted to delve deeper and learn more about these issues concerning children, mothers, and families, which led me to GW and the MPH MCH concentration.
Why did you choose GW's Milken Institute School of Public Health for your public health education? The Milken School of Public Health emphasizes public health professionals and clinicians providing care that is rooted in social justice, which is a sentiment that aligns with my personal values and goals and large reason for decision to pursue an MPH here.
If you have completed your CE or Practicum, please comment about that experience and what it meant to you as you pursue your career. I completed my practicum at the Mary's Center working as a Youth Development Fellow for their Teen Program. I was able to empower youth in the DC metro area by teaching health curricula topics like STDs, consent, and substance abuse. I even helped put a presentation together where GW students could talk about the PA profession. As a future provider, I know that my experience, skills, and knowledge from working for this FQHC will carry me forward.
Have any Public Health faculty and staff members influenced you in a unique way? Dr. Vyas and Dr. Nagaraj - I have never had professors who share the same South Asian identity as me and have dedicated their lives to such impactful research examining disparities among South Asians in the US and globally. I have had Dr. Vyas as a professor for MCH II, and I am currently taking Reproductive Health with Dr. Nagaraj. I am also working with Dr. Nagaraj on my CE surrounding diabetes, chronic stress, and violence among South Asian women in the US. This work is necessary and inspiring; I am thrilled to be a part of it!
What are your career plans post MPH? I aspire to become a physician assistant (PA), and in the long term, I hope to teach as a professor and use my clinical experience to influence my teaching experience in the classroom setting.
What advice would you give an incoming MCH/MPH candidate? Lead your life with an open mind, and always say yes to new and exciting opportunities.
Why should someone choose to come to the Milken Institute School of Public Health? Why not? In all honesty though, you will be surrounded by a community of students with such passion, grit, and charisma for wanting to improve public health and the healthcare world. The discussions in my MPH MCH courses never fail to amaze and enlighten me; in my opinion, that is the best part of receiving an education here.