We speak with Gurvir Singh Sidhu, a Master of Public Health and Master of Public Administration dual-degree student, about his journey from grassroots organizing to high-impact health policy advocacy. Gurvir shares how his early work with a tobacco prevention coalition in Bakersfield, California, sparked a passion for health education, city council advocacy, and built-environment policy. He discusses his transition to New York to leverage NYU GPH's global health program, connections with the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and proximity to major global health and policy entities in the city. Gurvir details his work as a program manager for the Highland Health Access Initiative, designing a rural healthcare hub in Sullivan County from the ground up, as well as his leadership in co-founding the Health in All Policies Advocacy Network (HAPAN) to address New York City food equity and access. He reflects on the concept of decolonizing public health by centering community voices, the support of faculty mentors and family, and his work with the Sikh Coalition.
