Masters' student flashing a peace sign amongst a crowd of other students graduating with her
IGHS News
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IGHS Celebrates 37 Global Health Master’s Graduates 

By Leah Rosenbaum, MPH, MA
Masters' student flashing a peace sign amongst a crowd of other students graduating with her

Every July marks an exciting time of year: the graduation celebration for the master’s students who completed the MS program in Global Health. This year we were pleased to grant degrees to 37 students who will now go on to new careers in global health.  

At graduation, several students won IGHS education awards for outstanding capstones, leadership and community building. These students exemplify the UCSF PRIDE values of professionalism, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence. This year, the winners included:

  • Jose Johnson and Samuel O’Brien, winners of the John L. Ziegler Outstanding Capstone Award
  • Atousa Bonyani, PharmD, winner of the Madhavi Dandu Leadership Award
  • Jemzi Ortiz, winner of the Community Building and Compassion Award
Jose Johnson, Samuel O'Brien, Atousa Bonyani, and Jemzi Ortiz in cap and gowns for graduation
From left to right: Jose Johnson, Samuel O’Brien, Atousa Bonyani, and Jemzi Ortiz

Also in July, the master’s students presented their capstone presentations — culminating their year of work with IGHS. This year’s students studied health interventions in Vietnam, Tanzania, Australia, Kenya, India and other places across the country and around the world. Research topics included maternal health, HIV, cancer and more. The complete list of capstone presentations can be viewed on the IGHS website (day 1 and day 2).  

Ensuring that students feel well-equipped for a full-time career in global health is one of the main objectives of our master’s program. “My experience in the program was highly rewarding, offering me invaluable insights and opportunities to engage with leading experts in the field of global health,” said Jose Johnson, MS, one of this year’s graduates. “The interdisciplinary approach allowed me to cultivate a diverse skill set, which I believe is essential for a successful career in global health.” 

In an exit survey of students this year, we were pleased to find that other students agreed. This program was the “perfect choice for my professional and academic growth,” one student wrote. Another wrote that the program “taught me so much and allowed me to gain a community that I will forever cherish.” Other words used to describe the program include: “incredibly supportive and kind,” “prompt and organized,” and “one of the best decisions of my life.”  

We are so proud of our Class of 2024 cohort, and we can’t wait to see what amazing things they will do in the field of global health. We are also excited to welcome the Class of 2025 soon and continue to educate the next generation of global health leaders.