Meet CDPHP Scholar and MPH Student Harshal Shet

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 8, 2022) – CDPHP Scholar Harshal Shet is earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) at UAlbany with a concentration in epidemiology, along with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health Surveillance and Preparedness. Passionate about helping those around him, he has consistently pursued opportunities to learn more from public health professionals, with the goal to make lasting change on the health of his community.

As an undergraduate public health student at UAlbany, Shet attended speaker series involving public health topics, exploring areas of public health ranging from promoting healthy lifestyles to disease prevention. During his freshman year, he wrote a commentary published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice about using social media to help dispel misconceptions about vaccines. He also conducted research at the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities, interned in the Medical Affairs department at Regeneron, and worked at Albany Medical Center as a Patient Care Associate.

“These opportunities paired with my academic program showed me how diverse the scope of public health is, and how it provides the opportunity to make a large-scale impact,” says Shet. “In particular, I’ve learned a lot about the differences in health outcomes in diverse communities and populations, and want to help reduce these disparities.”

Now as an MPH student, Shet is taking courses and pursuing experiences to help him reach his career goals. He was hired as an intern by the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology to help implement a national study looking at contaminants in drinking water sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Specifically, the study is examining the health effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water for residents in Hoosick Falls, New York, and Newburgh, New York. Shet has helped to coordinate with various organizations to make the launch of this community study a success.

“This work is important because understanding the relationship between PFAS exposure and health outcomes can help communities and organizations make better decisions on how to best protect public health,” says Shet, who plans to work closely with communities when he graduates so that he can promote health and well-being.

While Shet is unsure where his career path will take him, he is open to new opportunities to learn and explore different areas to help determine his specific career goals.

“I am passionate about public health because there are so many ways to make a positive impact in the community as everything we do on a daily basis affects our health,” Shet says. “I think the pandemic in particular has highlighted the significance public health truly has in understanding how we live—from health disparities to food insecurity to tracking the spread of disease. I am proud to be in the field of public health and look forward to making a positive impact on the community.”

Shet expresses gratitude towards those around him supporting him on his journey—his mentors, classmates, and CDPHP.

“I am truly honored to be chosen as a CDPHP Scholar,” he says. “This support shows the commitment and belief in the future of public health and its importance. I look forward to making CDPHP proud.”