Meet Our Lab Members : Fall 2025 - Spring 2026
Aakash Mishra
Born in Southern California and raised in Bangalore, India, Aakash is new to the East Coast as an MPH candidate at NYU. After a B.A. in Anthropology from Reed College, he's eager to explore more specific components of Public Health, especially how approaches vary between populations. In his free time, you can find him at any given café reading a book or walking around the city with his camera looking for the "perfect photo" (if it exists).
Abdullah Alrashadah
I am interested in urban health because cities represent both the epicenter of health challenges and a proving ground for innovative solutions. My work in infection prevention at Elmhurst Hospital in New York and as a public health inspector in Saudi Arabia has shown me how densely populated environments can amplify infectious disease risks, environmental hazards, and health inequities. These experiences, along with my MPH training in epidemiology and applied analytics, have strengthened my conviction that urban health interventions must be data-driven, equity-focused, and sensitive to local contexts.
Aidan Hall
Hi! I am Aidan, I am an incoming MPH student concentrating in Global Health. I just recently finished my undergraduate studies at UC San Diego. However, I am originally from Connecticut just a bit north of here! I’m a big Knicks fan and love to play basketball. I also like to get out explore, and be active in my free time.
Arzu Safarova
My name is Arzu Safarova, and I am a Master of Public Health student at NYU with a concentration in Global Health. I’m originally from Baku, Azerbaijan, where I earned my medical degree. I’m passionate about advancing health equity and improving access to care in underserved communities, especially in urban settings. My long-term goal is to combine my clinical and public health backgrounds to make an impact in global health.
Ayesha Naeem
I am a Master of Public Health student at New York University, specializing in Global Health. My professional experiences at Contech International and Aga Khan University allowed me to work on projects in family planning, immunization, and health systems strengthening across Pakistan. I am particularly passionate about HIV/AIDS prevention and global health security, with a focus on advancing equity-driven solutions in low- and middle-income countries. My goal is to bridge research, policy, and practice to design sustainable interventions that address pressing urban and global health challenges.
Connie Hang
Connie Hang is a second-year MPH student in Global Public Health. As a Khmer-Krom American, she is interested in the integration of Indigenous Knowledge and urban resilience for Indigenous communities. For the past decade, she has advocated for Indigenous Peoples in the Asia region at the United Nations Permanent of Indigenous Issues. She joins the urban lab to learn more about priority areas for action to improve urban planning to enhance health towards a more equitable, urban future.
Ibukun Alamu
Ibukun is a medical doctor and second-year MPH student at NYU with a strong passion for community and advancing health equity. She currently serves as the Community Life Lead for NYU’s African Graduate Students Association, where she focuses on creating spaces of connection, support, and belonging. Her interests lie at the intersection of medicine, public health, and community engagement, and she is dedicated to empowering healthier, more equitable communities where everyone can thrive.
Joel Trousdale
I am a second-year MPH student at NYU specializing in Global Health with a strong focus on urban health and health equity. With a background in community engagement, program coordination, and policy communication, I am passionate about advancing equitable urban health initiatives and addressing the structural factors that shape health outcomes in underserved communities.
Meghana Nagendra Kumar
Meghana Nagendra Kumar is a Master of Public Health candidate in Global Health at NYU’s School of Global Public Health, with a background in Ayurvedic Medicine (BAMS). Her interests span environmental health, mental health, health equity, and sustainable development. She has research experience in environmental impact analysis, equitable environments, and sustainable agriculture, working on projects involving data analysis, literature reviews, and community engagement. Meghana is passionate about translating research into actionable strategies that improve health outcomes in urban and rural settings. She is committed to fostering healthier, more resilient communities through evidence-based interventions, cross-sector collaboration, and inclusive public health policies.
Onoseta Momodu
Onoseta Momodu is a public health researcher with experience in healthcare operations, maternal-child health, and health equity research. Her work includes developing analytical tools, conducting literature reviews, and translating complex data into actionable insights. She is passionate about addressing the social and environmental determinants of health in urban settings and is committed to designing community-centered solutions that make cities healthier and more equitable.
Ramya Mark
Ramya Mark is a second-year Master of Public Health student at NYU, concentrating in Global Health. She began her undergraduate studies on a pre-med path at UC Irvine, earning a B.S. in Public Health Sciences with a Health Informatics minor, but experiences in clinical and community settings inspired her to explore public health as a way to address health challenges on a broader scale. She is eager to continue building on her global health foundation and hopes to contribute to solutions that support vulnerable populations in diverse urban and international communities.
Yoko Nogami
Yoko Nogami is a second year MPH student at NYU in Global Health Concentration. She serves as a Project Manager for the Global Action for Urban Health Lab.
She is an experienced professional in the healthcare industry with a background in urban design across Asia, Europe, and the United States., including over a decade in the pharmaceutical industry at Pfizer Inc. and Boston Consulting Group. Demonstrated expertise across digital marketing, product launches, market access, operations, and strategic planning in country, regional, and global roles. She is interested in evolving research findings into actionable tactics with communities, private sectors, and policymakers.
Areas of Interests: Urban Health, Aging Population, Environmental Effects, Access to Medicine.
Lois Angelo
Bio
Rhea Nakra
Bio
Yashvee Chintan Shah
Bio