Students
Meet Our HBS Students
The Department of Health, Behavior and Society hosts students from all over the nation and around the world—each contributing in a unique way to a dynamic learning environment on the leading edge of science and practice.
HBSSO
The Health, Behavior and Society Student Organization (HBSSO) is the student organization for the Department of Health, Behavior and Society. Learn more about HBSSO, including its mission, structure, and current leadership.
HBS Doctoral Student Pages
The Department of Health, Behavior & Society currently hosts over 30 doctoral students. Together, our HBS doctoral students are working to tackle critical public health issues around the country and the globe. Learn more about our doctoral students' research, publications, and more through our HBS doctoral student pages.
HBS Stories
Get to know our students through HBS Stories, our Department's editorial series showcasing the unique interests, backgrounds, and public health journeys of our HBS community.
Student Spotlights
Every HBS student brings their own mix of interests, educational and professional backgrounds, and lived experiences to the Department. Explore our recent Student Spotlights below to read more about the special pathways our students took to HBS and the Bloomberg School, as well as some of the highlights they've encountered since joining our community.
MHS Student Spotlight: Anushka Dar
Anushka Dar is a first-year student in the MHS in Health, Behavior and Society program. Anushka is interested in health justice research focused on community-based and grassroots health systems interventions.
MSPH Student Spotlight: Allison Zhang
Allison Zhang is a graduate of the MSPH in Health Education and Health Communication degree program who graduated in December 2025. Her research interests focused on maternal and child health, as well as advocacy and health care law, leading her to pursue the Certificate in Public Health Advocacy.
PhD Student Spotlight: Suzanne Block
Suzanne Block is a PhD candidate in the PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences program. Her research focuses on the health and well-being of adolescents and young adults living with hepatitis B.
Field Placement Journals
To prepare for domestic and international career opportunities in public health, all MSPH in Health Education and Health Communication students participate in a full-time field placement for least six months. In our Field Placement Journals, our MSPH students explain how they found and landed their placements (and what they discovered about themselves and their fields of interest along the way).
HBS Field Placement Journals: Sofía Espinoza
In her HBS Field Placement Journal, second-year student Sofía Espinoza reflects on her experience as a research assistant with PRISMA ONG in Puno, Perú.
HBS Field Placement Journals: Kanagavalli Mathivathanan
In her HBS Field Placement Journal, recent MSPH graduate, Kanagavalli Mathivathanan, reflects on her field placement experience as an intern with the World Health Organization-Headquarter, Geneva, Switzerland.
HBS Field Placement Journals: Heidi Chow
In her HBS Field Placement Journal, second-year MSPH student, Heidi Chow, reflects on her field placement experience as a Maternal and Child Health Program Officer at Samaritan's Purse, Cambodia.
HBS Field Placement Journals: Megan McWright
In her HBS Field Placement Journal, second-year MSPH student, Megan McWright, reflects on her field placement experience as a graduate student intern at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI/CMS).