BSPH Student Body President: Ashok Kumar Kanaparthi

School and Major: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Carey Business School: MPH/MBA
Estimated Graduation Date: May, 2025
Clubs or Organizations: President, Student Assembly, Johns Hopkins University (BSPH)

Can you discuss how being a Student Assembly President impacted your life at JHU?
Johns Hopkins University, the top public health school, attracts people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. As the Student Assembly President representing over 5,000 students from 96 countries, I have had the privilege of working closely with a diverse student body. This role has enhanced my team-building skills, decision-making abilities, and capacity to inspire teams towards shared goals. One significant advantage of this position is the opportunity to meet many distinguished individuals both at the university and back in my home country. Representing such a large and diverse group has taught me that responsibilities come with the position, and fulfilling them requires not only hard work and commitment but also believing in yourself.

 Why did you choose JHU, and what’s next for you?
As a medical doctor, I sought to develop a skill set that intersects public health and business education, essential for today’s complex healthcare landscape. I realized that Johns Hopkins University, with its top ranking, was the ideal place to acquire these skills. The university’s commitment to addressing global health issues aligns perfectly with my goals.

After completing my dual master’s degrees, I look forward to working in healthcare consulting, where I aim to bring revolutionary changes to the healthcare landscape. 

What skills are you learning at Hopkins that will be of value your whole life?
In addition to the top-tier academic skills taught at Johns Hopkins, I have also enhanced my communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. These skills are crucial for my personal and professional growth.

What unique experiences or achievements have shaped your educational journey so far?
Growing up with limited financial resources made it hard to access quality education. While my neighbours attended expensive English medium schools, I couldn’t afford to join them and felt my opportunities were limited. When I shared my disappointment with my father, he taught me an important lesson: it’s not where you study that matters, but how much you learn and your dedication. Inspired by his words, I vowed to excel in everything I did. Through hard work, I earned a spot in a government-funded school for talented students. My dedication continued through higher education, where I joined a prestigious health sciences institute. These experiences gave me a sense of purpose and a goal to help those from underprivileged backgrounds. Watching my father battle cancer and seeing the lack of information available to patients fueled my passion for healthcare. I realized that better community efforts and public health infrastructure could prevent such suffering and promote health. This realization led me to pursue further education at one of the world’s top universities, driven by the dream of making a significant impact in healthcare. I have always believed in the quote: “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

Are there any persons in your life that have made a lasting impact on you?
Paul Whong, a Senior Program Manager at BSPH, has made a lasting impact on me. From him, I learned that passion can help you achieve anything, such as building a strong network, regardless of your position. He taught me how to be maximally useful to others and how to maintain composure and work stability despite personal issues. There are many other lessons I have learned from him that will stay with me forever. I am grateful to have him in my life and always consider him my mentor.