An exciting aspect of YSPH is how deeply interdisciplinary it is. It’s a privilege to learn from Yale’s esteemed faculty, and to couple that with continually learning from other students’ unique and diverse perspectives will undoubtedly elevate my education. The ability to explore courses across other schools at Yale creates irreplicable opportunities to integrate public health academia with law, policy, economics, and more. I see my time at YSPH not only as a place to gain foundational and technical knowledge within health policy, but additionally as a time to frame that discipline within the broader landscape of public health, and the political and legal world around it through multidimensional learning.
YSPH student seeks to improve access to lifesaving treatments
Meet the Class of 2027: Vanessa McLennan, MPH ’27, Health Policy and Management Health Policy Program
What excites you about attending the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH)?
What do you feel sets YSPH apart from other public health schools?
To me, YSPH stands out for its strong and genuine sense of community. In conversations with current students and faculty before arriving, I was struck by how the environment at YSPH is intentionally structured to foster both academic and personal growth. The shared sentiment that collaboration stands as a pillar of YSPH's community truly underscores the mentality students have in relation to improving health for all. YSPH feels like more than just an academic institution and I’m here because I am eager to contribute to this network of students who are also motivated to implement meaningful change within the health care system.
What would you like people to know about you?
I studied Pharmacology at Western University in Canada. During my undergraduate years, I had the opportunity to conduct research for the development of World Health Organization (WHO) HIV guidelines, serve on the UAEM North American Coordinating Committee, and attend the World Health Assembly. I currently serve on the WHO Youth Council, which has deepened my understanding of global health governance and the political landscape that shapes it. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to addressing structural barriers to treatments and inspired me to pursue a global approach to public health.
What are your long-term goals?
I am eager to work at the intersection of policy, health, and research to influence global frameworks to ensure broader access to lifesaving treatments, irrespective of one's income or geographic location. I aspire to collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector to address systemic barriers across the industry from pricing models to the supply chain. Throughout my career, I hope to contribute to the implementation of sustainable solutions that balance pharmaceutical innovation and downstream accessibility.
Meet the Class of 2027 is an ongoing series showcasing incoming students at the Yale School of Public Health.