Making the journey from a hospital pharmacy in Beirut, Lebanon to the halls of GPH, master’s degree candidate Karen Nassar came to New York City on a mission to broaden her knowledge of health care systems. A trained pharmacist who’s eager to improve both clinical settings and systems management, Karen graduates soon and looks forward to a career enhancing the efficiency of public health organizations. Below is a brief Q & A about her STEM focus, her stints as GPH student ambassador and teaching assistant, and her NYC adventures.
What sparked your interest in public health?
I’ve interned at a retail pharmacy and also at a hospital, which gave me exposure to the clinical aspect of healthcare, with one-on-one patient interactions. I’ve also worked as a hospital pharmacist, where I interacted with providers, nurses, residents, doctors and administrators. But I wanted to understand where the issues I saw in clinical settings came from, so I needed to broaden my perspective about health care systems in general, and not limit myself to the clinical aspect.
What do you get out of your career?
I'm trying to learn about different facets of health care — pharmacy, nutrition, public health — because I want to be useful to the people around me. When someone says “I don't feel well, what can I do?” I want to be able to answer my family, my friends or whoever is asking. I want to be useful, and have a direct impact on people’s lives.
What led you to choose management as your concentration?
I’m from Lebanon, and in 2020, there was an enormous explosion in Beirut that killed hundreds of people. The government’s response to this disaster was such a mess, and nothing was organized. That triggered me to think more about the management side of public health, because I wanted to know how to respond efficiently to crises like that.
Do you recommend any courses or professors?
I took Data-Driven Decision-Making in Global Public Health with Dr. Moaz Abdelwadoud, a visiting professor in the Department of Global Health; I really enjoyed that experience. He really cared about his students, and you would always feel comfortable asking questions. He’s one of the teachers I have appreciated the most. Also, as an advisor, Andrea Muraca is helpful and understanding; he’s a great listener, and he offers guidance and encouragement. He's always there for you.
What are your plans for the future?
Eventually, I’d like to go into healthcare consulting to utilize my clinical, pharmacy, and public health skills together, but first I want to strengthen my profile because it's a very competitive field. I plan to look for a position that analyzes systems and identifies areas of improvement, or one that creates strategies to enhance an organization’s efficiency.
What led you to NYU specifically for your MPH?
GPH graduate programs are STEM-designated, which is not something that all universities offer. Because of this designation, international students like me qualify for three years of work authorization, which can be like an additional 24 months of practical training. But I’ve always known about NYU; everybody’s heard about it!
And how do you feel about GPH now that you're here?
I really understand the “global” in Global Public Health; we have one of the biggest international student communities and we learn from each other because of our different backgrounds and multiple perspectives. That’s what makes it feel special, compared to other universities. Everyone comes from different countries because everyone wants to be here.
What’s been your favorite class at GPH so far?
The most challenging was Financial Management because it's new to me, with a lot of very technical terms I've never heard of. Because of this class, though, I can relate to my friends at NYU Stern; even though I'm in the MPH program and they’re getting MBAs, we can talk about balance sheets or whatever. I loved other classes, too, like Teams and Strategy, but the management courses stuck with me; I learned the most from them.
Are you working as a pharmacist while pursuing your MPH?
Actually, as part of my applied practice experience, I’m doing an internship at CVS. Twice a week, I shadow a pharmacist to learn how she manages the business side of it.
I also work at GPH Student Affairs; I was an onboarding ambassador in the summer and then I continued as a grad intern. For everyone who subscribes to the Trail Mix and the DEI newsletters – I’m the one who’s writing them!
I was also a TA, a teaching assistant, for Dr. Chris Dickey. He teaches Results-Focused Strengthening of Health Systems in LMIC Countries, and they chose Lebanon for it, so it was a good fit.
Do you ever sleep? Or what are your favorite things to do in New York City?
I like to play tennis. We organize doubles or singles and go play in Central Park, which I love. New York is great for meeting people – it feels like every week I meet someone new, even in the subway. And I love the scenery when you’re coming from Brooklyn and can see the skyline of Manhattan. There are always new restaurants to try, new places to go, and new things to do. Everything is at your fingertips!
