Name: Dr. Mausam Jayanti Avlani

Course:  Master in Public Health: Management and Leadership

Study Level: Post Graduate Taught

University: University of Sheffield

Country of origin: India

Q. Why did you enroll on your course and how did you choose your university?

I am originally a dentist. The preventive and community based approach to healthcare appealed to me more than the clinical approach.  I worked as a clinician for few years and realized that I could have more impact on people’s health if I was a public health professional. After a considerable introspection I decided to switch focus from clinical to public health practice.

ScHARR (School of Health and Related research), at the University of Sheffield is considered one of the leading schools in the field of public health. In 2008 the school ranked no.1 in the RAE (Research Assessment Exercise). Many of the faculty members are actively involved in the public health field and therefore possess a vast and diverse experience.  The school arranges many lectures by many renowned professionals in relation to the subjects. They also currently have some amazing research projects  especially in context to health policies and health economics decision making.

Q. Why did you choose the UK as a study destination?

The UK has always been considered an excellent choice for health and allied professional studies. There is a tremendous global validity to degree offered by my university.

Q. How would you describe the structure of your course?

The structure is a very cohesive, engaging, a good mixture of theory and application. There is a great degree of freedom in modules I choose. There is an extensive amount of support available to students to help them make the best of their academic year. Lot of modules    require group work and presentation. This has been effective for gaining important transferrable skills like team work, organization, critical thinking, creative thinking etc.

Q. How does the English teaching style differ from that in your home country?

Not much. It is pretty similar to the contemporary style of language (speaking and writing) followed in most of professional education institution in my home country.

Q. How did you fund your studies? 

Self-funded.

Q. What were the biggest challenges that you faced in your first year? 

My original academic background is dentistry, which is very technical. My current field of study has a mixture of social sciences and bio-medicine. I had a very bio-medical and clinical way of looking at issues. Achieving a balance between clinical and anthropological thinking and developing my own style of critical thinking was a bit of challenge.

Q. What are the best things about your course?

One unique aspect about ScHARR(School of Health and related research)  is that the student cohort is very diverse in terms of nationality, background and experience. The diversity of the cohort makes learning very enjoyable, intense and provides excellent networking opportunities.

Q. What are you planning to do after graduation?

I would like to work in an international NGO or in international health agencies which work in the areas such as health inequalities, gender and youth empowerment, health trajectories and social movements and health economics.

Q. What advice would you give to other new international students?

Come with a very open mind. Allow yourself to enjoy the diversity around you and maintain your individuality at the same time.  Make the most of your time here!