Student and Alumni Quotes
Cal has provided me with a supportive environment in every aspect of my life. Being an international student with a family to take care of, every bit of support that I have received in Berkeley, especially from my fellow students and the administrative staff of the HSPA program, has meant the world to me. I also appreciate the countless opportunities to meet and learn from all kinds of people, from renowned Professors to undergraduate students. It was easy to find people interested in similar topics and we have been lucky to have had the University support these collaborative efforts. Looking retrospectively, coming to Berkeley instead of going to other schools in the US was the best decision we could have made.
Soledad Martinez-Gutierrez, MD
PhD Candidate
Berkeley’s Health Services and Policy Analysis (HSPA) PhD program has given me a unique opportunity to pursue public health in an interdisciplinary setting. My education and research has benefited through taking courses and connecting with faculty in departments across the University, including political science and public policy.
Zoe Harris, PhD
Spring 2010
HSPA is such a unique group of students with diverse experience and interests. We complement each other well, and although there is no pressure for competition, there is always an urge to perform our best. I am really proud to be a member of HSPA.
Ha Nguyen, PhD
Spring 2009
The HSPA PhD program not only provided an unrivaled opportunity to pursue my interests in health economics research, but also allowed me to be exposed to cutting-edge thinking beyond the confines of my own specialization. The extraordinary faculty, the students, the program support all contributed to the superb learning experience that made the years I spent in the program the most wise investment of time in my life.
Yevgeniy Goryakin, PhD
Spring 2009
The interdisciplinary nature of the HSPA program has allowed me to take advantage of many departments and disciplines here at UC Berkeley, including Education, Political Science, Organizational Behavior, and Public Health — nearly all of which are ranked among the top in their fields in the country. It’s also enabled me to meet students outside my field, which has helped broaden my perspective and added significantly to my educational experience here.
Julian J. Wimbush, PhD
Spring 2009
HSPA as a discipline is at the heart of public health in the 21st century. We learn how to use the influence of other disciplines to help address the prevailing issues in public health.
Ebbin D. Dotson, PhD
Winter 2008
The interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Health Policy and Analysis allows you to grow and explore your personal interest areas. I entered the program with an idea which faculty have helped me to focus into a do-able and important dissertation topic. The program is preparing me well for a future in academic research.
Dana Petersen, PhD
Spring 2007
One of the greatest strengths of the HSPA PhD program is the cohesiveness of the student cohorts; we support each other and are all good friends. I appreciate that there is little within-group competition.
Sangeeta Ahluwalia, PhD
Spring 2008
