NUS Public Health CLUB
Yeo Hui Yu
27 Jun 2023
Krishaa, the Deputy Vice President of the Public Health Challenge 2022, brings us along on her transformative journey in the Public Health Club, where she was able to discover her passions, foster her leadership skills, and work towards her goal of creating positive change in healthcare.
Disclaimer: All opinions and views expressed in this article are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not reflect the opinions and views of the NUS Public Health Club, the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and their respective affiliates or employees.
In NUS, it is not uncommon for students to partake in extra-curricular activities on top of their busy academic curriculum to explore their varying interests. For Krishaa, a driven and passionate individual, this journey took her through the doors of the Public Health Club (PHC). And what a journey she has been on! She certainly made the most of her time here, putting on multiple caps that allowed her to learn and grow as a leader, from being the Deputy Vice President of the Public Health Challenge 2022 to being a mentor to Project Lunch oN US.
What made her join PHC in the first place? Krishaa's revelation of her passion for public health came during an Independent Study project on the effect of gut microbiota on Alzheimer's Disease. Delving into the intricate connections between lifestyle factors and disease risk, she realized the immense potential of preventive medicine and the impact that healthy lifestyle habits can have on overall well-being. This realization propelled Krishaa towards exploring the lifestyle aspect of public health. Recognizing the immense potential of awareness campaigns in driving preventive health, such as the remarkable projects spearheaded by the Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI), she made the decision to join PHC.
Within the club, Krishaa spearheaded one of HCI’s key initiatives, the Public Health Challenge, which was designed to inspire students to think creatively and develop workable solutions to address public health issues within the NUS student population. She shared that “I had the valuable opportunity to lead a team, plan and execute three events in succession. I also enjoyed collaborating with both external and internal stakeholders (speakers, mentors, judges) to bring the challenge to fruition and enjoyed having public health-related conversations with them.”
As Krishaa's involvement in the Public Health Club deepened, she began to consider her career aspirations. Initially, Krishaa's major in Biomedical Engineering had her to consider an engineering or research-based career. However, her experiences in the club led her to pivot towards patient care and preventive medicine instead, where she could make tangible differences in people's lives. Thus, she set her sights on pursuing postgraduate medicine.
As American entrepreneur and author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad” Robert T. Kiyosaki once said “Passion is the driving force behind success and the key to living a fulfilling life”, Krishaa’s passion has propelled her towards remarkable achievements, securing her a well-deserved place in medical school. Looking forward, she envisions herself at the forefront of patient care, raising awareness and guiding patients on preventive health and lifestyle management.
Reflecting on her time in the Public Health Club, Krishaa attributes her personal growth to the leadership skills she developed. Through her involvement in the Public Health Challenge, first as a Project Director in 2021 and later as the Deputy Vice President in 2022, Krishaa honed her ability to lead a team - adapt to changing circumstances, and able to advance the goals of individual team members, all while marching towards the successful accomplishment of her projects.
Krishaa's journey in the Public Health Club serves as an inspiration to students aspiring to work in the healthcare industry. Her advice to those keen on joining PHC is simple but wise: embrace the opportunity to explore your interests, grow as individuals, and have a voice in shaping decisions that impact public health. She encourages everyone to “go beyond just the academic side of it and to become more aware of the social and on the ground implications of public health”.
We express our gratitude to the staff advisors at Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, Dr Andre Matthias Müller and Ms Wendy Tan Mei Ling, for their guidance and support provided to us in the PHC Alumni Relations Interview Series (AY2022/2023).