Michelle Ferng
Master of Science in Public Health degree candidate
Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia
Taiwan and Canada
MSPH in International Health – Health Systems
What are your career goals?
I hope to work on strengthening health systems abroad, particularly on improving institutional and community capacity for service delivery. I am especially interested in promoting a rights-based approach to system reform and program design and implementation.
What sparked your interest in global health?
In my freshman year of college, I volunteered in the Guatemalan highland communities on a ventilated stove construction project. It was very rewarding to be able to create lasting impact on the lives of others, especially considering the small scale of the project. I realized then that global health was a field in which I could make a meaningful, measurable difference. I haven’t looked back since.
How do you see yourself making a difference in public health because of the Global Health Scholarship?
Thanks to the Global Health Scholarship, I am pursuing a MSPH at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, which will equip me with the fundamental skills in policy analysis, program design and management, and research. I am excited to join a strong network of public health professionals and look forward to the many opportunities to improve health outcomes around the world.
Who inspires you and why?
I am continually inspired by the late Dr. Jonathan Mann for his work in promoting health and human rights. It’s a constant reminder of why we continue to fight for basic rights, how far we’ve come despite the challenges, and the immense potential — even responsibility — that each of us has to shape dialogue and promote lasting change.