Sara Jumabhoy

Sara Jumabhoy is a is a true product of the Cornell education system. A graduate of Cornell University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences, Sara first learned about Weill Cornell’s Master of Science program on the Ithaca campus. “I’ve always had an interest in healthcare and research, and economics was a unique part of the program,” she related. “A lot of healthcare programs don’t consider the economics angle, and it’s the backbone for any policy.”

One of Sara’s favorite classes so far has been “Introduction to U.S. Healthcare Policy and Delivery.” Taught by Dr. Arian Jung, the course introduces basic economics concepts and current policy issues facing the U.S. healthcare system. Sara, who hails from Singapore, decided to pursue her master’s degree in the U.S. because of the country’s distinctive healthcare infrastructure. “There are so many stakeholders – it’s a very large and confusing situation,” she explained. “It’s nice to learn about the different components of the healthcare system and gain an understanding of the foundation before trying to make changes to the delivery system.” 

Sara is also impressed with the program’s small cohort size and personalized attention from the faculty: “Dr. Jung is very passionate about the program, and it shows. She’s an amazing resource and emphasizes the student-professor connection.” Sara, who plans to become a healthcare consultant upon graduation, is already putting her new skills to the test as a research assistant in the Department of Population Health Sciences. Working alongside Dr. Jiani Yu on projects relating to social determinants of health and quality of care, she is participating in the research process from conception to completion. “I’ve had such an amazing experience studying at Cornell. It has shaped the person that I am – 100 percent,” she shared.   

Additionally, Sara is participating in a Capstone project for which she is part of a group of students that is consulting for Health & Hope Myanmar. Under the guidance of Dr. Ruth Masterson Creber, Sara and her team will be working on health surveillance initiatives in the Chin State area, intending to present a policy brief to the Burmese government in the coming months.