MPH student takes an interdisciplinary approach to climate-related health inequities
As an early career doctor in Perth, Australia, Sanchita Gera, MPH ’26, saw how social and environmental factors outside the hospital walls—like domestic violence and climate change-driven wildfires—were affecting some patients’ health more than others. She wanted to address such determinants of health on a larger scale and improve outcomes. As a student in Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s MPH in Quantitative Methods program, she’s doing just that—from a variety of perspectives.
Through her first year of courses, Gera has been able to study how factors including climate change, human rights, global conflict, and migration intersect to affect health. In addition to her regular coursework in quantitative methods, she’s pursuing two interdisciplinary concentrations, one in Climate Change and Planetary Health and the other in Humanitarian Studies.
A Fulbright Scholar, Gera is also working on a self-directed practicum project on the health impacts of climate change. In collaboration with the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and supervised by Robert Meade and Satchit Balsari, Gera is looking at non-survivable wet-bulb temperatures (a measure that combines heat, humidity, wind, and sunlight) and implications for climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in India. Additionally, Gera is the lead researcher on a project with the Climate Change, War, and Health Scholarly Working Group at the Harvard Global Health Institute. Under guidance from Ann-Christine Duhaime, Gera is exploring heat-related illness in the context of climate change and war.
One of Gera’s favorite classes has been “The Politics of Climate and Health,” taught by Vanessa Kerry, associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health. “Dr. Kerry’s classes are unparalleled, filled with student discourse, rich in insightful lessons and featuring world-renowned global experts,” Gera said.
Another favorite course was “Decision Analysis for Health and Medical Practices,” taught by Ankur Pandya, associate professor of health decision science. Said Gera, “[This course’s] appeal lies in the real-world applicability of principles essential for every public health professional to understand and in the supportive teaching environment.”
Gera is also one of 28 graduate students selected for the Climate Leaders Program, run by the Harvard University Center for the Environment and the Salata Institute. The program fosters connection between graduate students across disciplines who are interested in climate-related work.
Since starting her program in fall 2025, Gera has formed a close-knit group of friends within her cohort. Together, they celebrated Friendsgiving, attended the Harvard-Yale football game in New Haven, Conn., and traveled to Vermont to enjoy the seasonal fall foliage.
