Pratyusha Settipalli is a second-year Master of Public Health (MPH) student at NYU’s School of Global Public Health, with a concentration in Global Health. With over four years of experience spanning healthcare management, disaster response, and public health initiatives, Pratyusha has worked with organizations like the American Red Cross and Encore Support Services, bringing equity and resilience to the forefront of her work. Her career is defined by a commitment to underserved communities, bridging gaps in access and resources to create lasting change. Read our Q&A with Pratyusha below!
Interviewed by Sara Merken.
Q: Can you tell me a little about yourself?
A: I’m an MPH candidate at NYU, with a focus on Global Health and a heart for health equity and disaster response. My journey has been anything but linear starting with managing telemedicine for underserved rural communities in India to orchestrating disaster recovery efforts with the American Red Cross in New York. Now, I work with children on the autism spectrum as an Applied Behavior Analysis Intern at Encore Support Services, where I’ve discovered how small victories can have life-changing ripple effects. My story is about bridging gaps—whether between communities and resources, or resilience and opportunity.
Q: What sparked your interest in public health?
A: It all started in a dusty clinic in rural India, where I witnessed the transformative power of telemedicine as it connected a family to care they never imagined was within their reach. This wasn’t just about diagnosing an illness, it was about restoring hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging in a system that had often excluded them. That moment struck me deeply.
Public health, I realized, is not just about treating diseases—it’s about creating pathways where none existed before. It’s the fusion of compassion and strategy, advocacy, and innovation. From that day forward, I committed myself to breaking down barriers, building equitable systems, and leaving a lasting impact on the communities that need it most.
Q: Can you share more about your work in emergency preparedness and response? Why are you interested in the field?
A: At the American Red Cross, I came to understand that emergencies do more than expose vulnerabilities—they uncover the profound strength of human connection and resilience. Leading disaster response teams, I saw neighborhoods rally together, strangers become lifelines, and small acts of kindness turn into powerful forces for recovery.
What draws me to this field is the duality of challenges and opportunities. Every disaster isn’t just a crisis; it’s a classroom. It teaches us how to adapt, how to strengthen our systems, and most importantly, how to ensure no one is left behind. Emergency preparedness isn’t just about anticipating disasters, it’s about fostering hope and building stronger, more united communities.
Q: What is a current emergency or disaster you believe is critical to address?
A: We’re living in an era of “slow-moving disasters” like climate change. It’s not just an environmental issue; it’s a health crisis. Rising temperatures are amplifying chronic illnesses, displacing families, and exposing inequities that have long been ignored.
This isn’t just about saving lives in the moment, it’s about creating systems that adapt, recover, and thrive long after the storm passes. To me, it’s the ultimate test of public health: how we turn a looming threat into a shared opportunity for resilience.
Q: What is your experience with health equity, and how do you think it can be applied in emergency or disaster preparedness and management?
A: Health equity is about asking, “Who’s being left behind?” and then doing everything possible to change that. In my work with vulnerable populations, whether supporting children on the autism spectrum and special needs through tailored behavioral interventions or assisting families displaced by disasters, I’ve witnessed firsthand how systemic inequities create invisible emergencies long before the physical ones occur.
Applying health equity in emergency preparedness means shifting the focus from reactive solutions to proactive systems. It involves designing frameworks that anticipate and address the unique needs of underserved communities, from accessible evacuation plans to culturally informed communication strategies. To me, health equity in this field is the cornerstone of resilience—it transforms response systems into inclusive safety nets that protect not just some of us, but all of us.
Q: What is next for you after you complete your MPH degree?
A: I see myself at the intersection of public health policy, disaster resilience, and global health innovation. Whether it’s designing equitable health systems or leading preparedness programs for marginalized communities, I want to be where big ideas meet tangible change. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to a world where health isn’t a privilege but a fundamental right—and where every challenge is met with a solution that works for everyone.
Q: Do you have a favorite public health figure, and if so, who and why?
A: For me, Dr. Paul Farmer is the embodiment of what public health should strive to be. His work wasn’t just about providing healthcare, but about challenging systems that perpetuate inequality. He believed in radical equity, fighting for communities that the world too often forgets.
Dr. Farmer’s life reminds me that public health is about more than policies and programs—it’s about people. He didn’t just change global health systems; he changed the way we think about care, justice, and humanity. His mantra, “The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world,” feels like a compass for anyone in public health and inspires me daily in my work.