Greetings! My name is
Sam Lee, and I am a master’s student at the Harvard School of Public Health
studying health policy and management.
This promises to be quite an eventful summer! First things first – I’m getting married the
week before I start my internship! Then
it’s off to the Philippines, where I will be working with the World Health
Organization (WHO) Regional Office in Manila.
As an intern with the WHO, I will be performing research on gaps in
research and development (R&D) in developing countries. After having spent several years in the
consulting industry working with pharmaceutical companies, I am all too
familiar with these R&D gaps and the inequitable system that allows
neglected diseases to remain that way…neglected. And I hope that the work I contribute to can change that.
The Philippines is a country that has historically
marginalized the rights of its women citizens.
But the country has shown signs of change recently. With the passing of the very controversial
Reproductive Health Act, the Philippines government has shown commitment to recognizing
the health rights of its female citizens.
But there are so many more neglected diseases that disproportionately
affect women, and so I will consult with experts in the Manila office to help
contribute to the larger mission of finally addressing these neglected
diseases. I am very excited to be a part
of the work that can influence the R&D agenda to include
the health needs
of women around the world for years to come.
Like I said before – this should be quite an eventful
summer! I will pick this blog back up
after I get hitched, but I would first like to sincerely thank the kind folks
at the Women and Public Policy Program and the Cultural Bridge Fellowship for their generosity and support for
this work. I have high hopes for this summer,
and I hope that you do too!
I look forward to sharing my adventures with you! Thank you!
-Sam
