Preparing for a Career in Public Health at Drexel

My name is Karaan Kothari, BS in Public Health '24. I grew up outside of Philadelphia in Moorestown, NJ and appreciated the opportunity to gain a career-orientated education close to home at Drexel University. I am now in my senior year at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health and the Pennoni Honors College and have lots to reflect on.

Below is a Q+A that will help tell my story.

I learned how to communicate and learn from others effectively in my coursework.

Why did I choose to pursue public health at Drexel Dornsife?

Dornsife immediately felt like a community to me when I visited for an admitted students day in 2020. The faculty and students I spoke to truly were passionate about their work and the education provided at the school and I felt that it was a natural fit. I love the setting of our school and how we have outreach to local populations in the city, allowing me to learn about the status of our most critical health problems in real time, including vaccine hesitancy, food insecurity and food justice, and drug interventions.

What compels and drives me to study public health?

I feel that studying public health really helps to answer the question of "why?" We spend time understanding context and how historical actions affect communities in existence today. I think having a strong understanding of that basis is essential to making effective changes to the inadequacies we see across the nation in medicine, legislation, injury prevention, and health today.

What is my co-op?

I am currently on my co-op, as a medical technician at a local optometric office called Premier Eye Associates. In this position, I assist optometrists with screening patients for certain eye conditions and diseases. True to my public health path so far, this co-op is allowing me to put my passion for preventative health care to work. The practice screens for conditions such as Keratoconus, Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, and Dry Eye — all of which call for early intervention for improved outcomes.

What am I most proud of so far in my public health journey?

My identity as an Indian classical dancer is one that I hold most dearly. I am passionate about culturally competent health care, and have always tried to link my heritage to my education in public health. During my third year, in my Injury Prevention and Control course, I had the opportunity to showcase Bharatanatyam, the classical style that I practice, and advocate for the necessity for injury prevention in young dancers to protect the longevity of this ancient dance form.

Upon graduation, what impact do I hope to have?

While I believe education is essential to making a difference in the world, I might argue that without communication, knowledge becomes ineffective. I learned how to communicate and learn from others effectively in my coursework. I realize that without the ability to teach someone your perspective while also having the capacity to understand, internalize, and not immediately judge theirs, a productive conversation cannot be had. I hope to learn how to help people trust science, medicine, and public health, because I know that these fields have previously been rather isolated, and that it will take intentional action to decode and reopen these disciplines to mass populations.

Learn More About Dornsife's Undergraduate Public Health Programs