May 6, 2025

Before coming to Drexel University, Filza Zuberi completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi, Pakistan. There she ran her own clinic, blending clinical care with community outreach and saw firsthand health disparities impacting her community.

Now at Dornsife pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health within the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Zuberi is leveraging her diverse background to drive health equity. She currently serves in multiple roles, including Dean’s Office Assistant and Research Assistant within Stanford University’s Department of Pediatrics, helping with a project on public health policy and consumer behavior. She also serves as Treasurer of the Maternal and Child Health Student Organization and was recently appointed Assistant Executive Head II of the Academic and Research Board within Drexel’s International Graduate Students Association.

Last month, Zuberi received confirmation that she was selected for the 2025 cohort of Dornsife Global Development Scholars. She will spend three months working alongside the World Vision’s Lesotho Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) team over the summer.

With a unique combination of clinical expertise, student organization leadership, and completed coursework, Zuberi has an array of experiences to reflect on below in the Q+A.

Why did you decide to pursue public health?

Coming from a clinical background, I realized early on that while treating patients one-on-one is important, real change happens when we address the bigger systems that impact health.

My experiences as a dentist in Pakistan showed me how much access, awareness, and affordability shape people’s health outcomes. That’s what drew me toward public health.

Through my MPH at Drexel, I’m learning how to combine clinical experience with public health strategies to design interventions that promote early detection, equity, and stronger healthcare systems for underserved communities.

What challenges have you faced while working towards your degree?

Adjusting to a new country while balancing graduate coursework, two jobs, and leadership roles has definitely been a challenge. I work as a Dean’s Office Assistant, a Research Assistant, and stay active in student organizations, so managing my time effectively became really important early on.

There were definitely moments when it felt overwhelming, but what made a huge difference was the support I received from Drexel’s faculty and staff. They have always been understanding and open, whether it’s about managing stress, adjusting deadlines when needed, or simply offering encouragement. Knowing that I had a community around me made it a lot easier to stay focused, organized, and motivated, even during the busiest times.

Why Drexel Dornsife?

I chose Dornsife because of its strong commitment to health equity, community engagement, and evidence-based public health practice. What really stood out to me was how welcoming, inclusive, and culturally respectful the environment felt, something that meant a lot to me as an international student.

The chance to learn from inspiring faculty, gain hands-on research experience, and be part of a supportive and diverse public health community made Dornsife feel like the right place for both my personal growth and professional development.

What public health classes have you enjoyed most?

One of my favorite classes so far has been Public Health Foundations and Systems I and II. These courses helped me build a strong understanding of how public health systems work, how policies are created, and how leadership plays a role in health outcomes. I loved how the classes connected real-world examples with what we were learning in theory, it made everything feel practical and relevant to what I want to do in the future.

What was your favorite interaction with a Drexel Dornsife faculty member?

One of my favorite experiences at Drexel has been taking Public Health Foundations and Systems I with Dr. Jerry Fagliano. He’s an amazing professor, his classes and lab sessions were always super interactive and made it so easy for everyone to speak up and share their ideas. I really appreciated how open he was to new thoughts and different perspectives.

As an international student from Pakistan, it meant a lot to me that I could bring in examples from my own country, and he always encouraged me to share those experiences. Having that kind of space made me feel confident and heard, and it made the whole learning process even more meaningful.

Can you share how you applied what you learned directly to a practical setting?

A lot of what I learned at Drexel came into play during my work as a Research Assistant at Stanford University’s Department of Pediatrics.

In class, we talked a lot about how important it is to communicate clearly, build trust, and stay mindful of ethics when working with communities, and I found myself using those skills every day while recruiting participants and collecting survey data. Having that foundation made me feel much more confident working with people from different backgrounds, and it showed me how much public health is really about connecting with people the right way.

What’s next for you?

Next up for me is continuing to build on the experiences I’m gaining through my MPH program, research work, and community involvement.

I’m excited to deepen my work in public health research, especially focusing on health equity, maternal and child health, and making healthcare more accessible to underserved populations.

In the long run, I hope to bridge my clinical background in dentistry with public health, expanding my clinical setup to a global level where I can offer both direct care and community-based health initiatives. My goal is to create sustainable programs that bring together research, practice, and policy to make a lasting difference both locally and internationally.

Learn more about the MPH program