SPH Alumni Spotlight: Shichi Dhar

Shichi Dhar served as one of the Undergraduate Journal of Public Health’s (UJPH) Co-Editors-In-Chief from 2023 to 2024. Her journey with UJPH began in her freshman year when she worked closely with her PUBHLTH 200 GSI to convert the class to qualify for honors credit. Through this work, Shichi conducted a literature review analyzing higher rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths among Black Americans. Impressed by her analysis, her GSI—who also served as a graduate student editor for UJPH—encouraged Shichi to submit her piece to the journal, which was ultimately published in the 2022 journal.

The following year, Shichi stumbled upon UJPH at FestiFall and immediately felt drawn to its welcoming community. With her long-standing passion for writing and public health, she became deeply involved and eventually took on the role of co-editor-in-chief.

Since graduating in May 2024, Shichi has spent her gap year working as a medical assistant in a dermatology office. She is also engaged in research at the Center for Midlife Science, where she participates in both participatory and wet lab research while currently applying to medical schools. Shichi hopes to continue her passion for public health writing in her future career as a medical professional. She envisions using writing as a tool to empower patients by providing accessible, reliable information about their conditions. Beyond the clinical setting, she also aims to engage with broader communities, using writing to raise awareness about barriers to health and help individuals take ownership of their well-being.

When asked why public health writing is important, Shichi responded, “Writing is a very powerful skill because communication is essential.” She highlights how UJPH gives undergraduate students a rare opportunity to engage actively in writing and publishing. In large universities, it is often difficult for undergraduates to get published or gain meaningful writing experience. UJPH offers students the chance to be part of the entire editorial process, from reviewing papers to evaluating sources and addressing study design limitations. Shichi notes, “When you learn to make recommendations as an editor, those skills stay with you and shape the way you approach research and communication in the future.”

Shichi also emphasizes the importance of keeping public health conversations going, especially in the current political climate, where changes in government policy and limited funding threaten marginalized communities. “Being able to write and communicate succinctly is crucial when addressing a broad audience,” she explains. Shichi believes that the most pressing public health concerns at present include women’s health, immigrant health, and minority health. Shichi urges us to observe where attention and resources are being allocated—or withheld.

In a time marked by misinformation and a growing distrust in science, Shichi sees public health writing as a critical tool to rebuild public trust. She notes that effective communication means meeting people where they are: “The goal of writing is to know your audience and communicate clearly. When dealing with mistrust, the last thing you want to do is use overly academic language.” Instead, she advocates for presenting credible information in comprehensible terms to counter misinformation. “Our instinct is often to dismiss someone when they share misinformation, but that only creates animosity,” she warns. “We speak from a privileged lens as public health students, but many people don’t understand the nuances behind public health. That’s why it’s so important to meet in the middle and educate in terms we can all understand.”

Shichi’s experience reflects how public health writing can be a powerful bridge between research and community engagement, fostering understanding and empowerment in the process. Through her work, she continues to inspire others to engage in thoughtful and meaningful public health conversations.