![Headshot image of Rahul](/sites/g/files/lrezom436/files/styles/large/public/2021-12/Rahul%20Kulkarni%20_HEADSHOT.jpg?itok=o28_Fk3O)
At Tufts, I knew I would be able to pursue my interests in health policy on a global scale.
What made you apply to Tufts and pursue a career in public health?
Tufts has such a huge focus on global citizenship and principled leadership. I come from a background where I went to India every summer and saw healthcare disparities that impacted my family. From that, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare at a macro-level. At Tufts, I knew I would be able to pursue my interests in health policy on a global scale.
I was really motivated to get my MPH after learning from my undergraduate Public Health and Community Medicine professor and her work against big tobacco. I saw the effect that activism could have on public health and it made me even more eager to engage.
What was the MPH program like?
As an MPH student I was exposed to people who were learning about and working in many different areas of public health, and as a health policy major, I gained insights into policy law and management. The program also provided enough flexibility for students to balance working and going to class. I was able to finish my degree while working in clinics outside of the program and I still had time to pursue music with my rock band. When I graduated I felt like I had this really interesting set of professional experiences that put me in a position to pursue other dreams.
Can you share more about your clinical work and your Applied Learning Experience (ALE)?
Because of my undergraduate background, I was able to do clinical work as a group therapist at North Suffolk Mental Health. I ran a methadone support group for people with mental health and substance abuse disorders. For my ALE, I worked on a Naloxone Narcan van. We worked (on an initiative) to provide access to Naloxone for opioid overdoses to first responders, but also users themselves and their family members. The van was a safe space for anyone in the community who needed the support.
What are you doing today?
Graduating in 2010 was an economic whirlwind because of the financial crisis. I decided to travel with my band then joined the United Nations as a Princeton fellow in Ecuador, focusing on mound nutrition and Colombian refugees. I returned to school for an MBA and began experiencing burnout. Over the years I experimented with different therapy treatments to improve my health and my journey led me to more holistic options.
In 2019 I co-founded Sukhi, a mental health platform focused on the corporate world. We provide virtual packages that include live meditations, desk yoga, and different workshops to mitigate stress. Sukhi was created to build a bridge between cultural sensitivity and mental wellness as well as cohesively utilize data and analytics to customize therapy.
What do you want students who are considering a Tufts MPH to know?
The beautiful thing about public health is that it gives you so much flexibility. My time at Tufts provided a solid background not only in policy, but in areas like economics and business. It has helped me get to where I am today.
At Tufts, I knew I would be able to pursue my interests in health policy on a global scale.