Informational interview with Dr. Stefano Bertozzi

(Note: The responses are not direct quotes, just the main points I learned from Dr. Bertozzi's responses) 

Qn:   Describe a typical day of your work/ some of the projects you are currently involved in e.g. the trip to South Africa?

Ans:  Now, I am mostly in charge of doing a manager’s job:  10-12 hours of meetings focused on transformative  technology in global health e.g. vaccines etc., strategies surrounding regulatory issues of drugs and vaccines, negotiating with government officials. I am also responsible for working with PEPFAR and WHO in coordinating our responses to the global epidemic of AIDS and TB.

Qn:   What first drew you to global health? You did a bachelor degree in biology like I am doing now. But then got involved with health policy & impact evaluation of health projects? How did that happen?

Ans: I started in academic medicine. However, doctor’s degree is not critically important. Quantitative skills e.g. statistics, economics etc are important for future employment in the field of global health. Right now, we really need more talented young people coming in with those skill sets.

Qn:  Did your work experiences in global health turn out to be what you first expected in the early stage of your career? What do you enjoy most about working in this field?

Ans: I have done field work in Congo and Tanzania and worked 11 years in Mexico. I have also been employed by the World bank. I have been enjoying my work greatly. The sense of achievement and of you are actually helping people live a better life on the population scale is the greatest part of it all. 

Qn:  What are some important points to think about before deciding to go into the field of global health?

    Ans: you got to like different cultures, different people. And a lot of traveling. I have just flown to South African in 24 hours, stayed there for about that much time and come back to the United States.

Qn:   What skills do you think are important for one to gain at the undergraduate and graduate level in preparation for a career in global health?

Ans: Cross-register at Harvard. Learn things on a broader scale than a single cell or a single protein: take physiology, anatomy, immunology. And I wish you all the best in pursing global health!