By Nikki Apana MPP/MD 2027
Deciding to apply to Harvard Kennedy School
As a first-year medical student, I knew I wanted to be a “physician and _.” A leader. An advocate. A changemaker. Fill in the blank.
For a long time, I assumed that blank would be filled by a Master of Public Health (MPH). That’s the traditional path, right? An MPH, with its population health lens and rigorous research focus, complements an MD. It’s a natural extension of clinical training.
But then two of my Native mentors and HKS alumni challenged me. As brilliant, policy-minded physicians, they told me the same thing: If you want to change systems and not just work within them, you need to understand how policy is made.
That was the first time I seriously considered the Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program at HKS, and it changed everything.
When data isn’t enough
I’ve always known that public health is political. However, I still believed, perhaps naively, that if we just had better data, stronger evidence, and clearer numbers, then policy would undoubtedly follow. But, medical school complicated that belief.
I learned that data and evidence matter, but storytelling, narrative, and people power often matter just as much, if not more. Policy isn’t just technical; it is human, relational, and strategic. Over the past three years, my interests gradually shifted from an MPH focused primarily on research to an MPP focused on the art of policymaking.
“The classroom feels global, the conversations feel meaningful, and the friendships feel long-lasting. At HKS, you are never alone in wanting to build something better and believe in something bigger.”
Why HKS felt right
When I was deciding where to enroll, three aspects of HKS made it stand out.
The classes
With a medical background, I wanted to stretch the boundaries of my knowledge and build a more expansive toolkit for changemaking. At HKS, I have been able to take courses in economics, statistics, negotiation, and public policy design. Some of my favorite classes so far have been MLD-360M: Being Human, Indigenous Nation-Building I & II, and U.S. Healthcare Industry and Regulatory Policy. I’ve become more of a systems thinker in one semester than I thought possible.
The faculty
The access here is unreal. I came excited to learn from Marshall Ganz, whose work on public narrative reshaped how I think about leadership and community organizing. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be mentored by Amitabh Chandra, who is a world-renowned health economist. I have also learned from former senior advisors, agency officials, and people who have worked inside the White House. You don’t just learn theory; you get a behind-the-scenes look at how decisions are actually made.
The people
This might be the biggest one. HKS draws passionate, driven, idealistic students from all over the world. In one week, you might:
Debate fiscal policy with someone who worked in the federal government.
Grab coffee with a former consultant pivoting to climate justice.
Study alongside a JD/MPP, MBA/MPP, or fellow MD/MPP.
Learn from classmates representing countries you’ve only read about.
The classroom feels global, the conversations feel meaningful, and the friendships feel long-lasting. At HKS, you are never alone in wanting to build something better and believe in something bigger.
Would I choose HKS again?
Now in my second semester, I can say this clearly: a thousand times, yes.
HKS has given me tools I didn’t know I was missing, confidence I didn’t know I needed, and relationships I know will shape my life and career trajectory.
I am closer than ever to becoming a “physician and _.” Not just someone who treats patients, but someone who understands systems, analyzes trade-offs, builds coalitions, and tells a story that moves people to act.
Choosing a graduate program is overwhelming. You’ll weigh prestige, cost, curriculum, and culture. You may second-guess yourself—and that’s normal!
But if you are someone who wants to think bigger than your current field, sit at tables where decisions are made, and meet classmates who challenge and inspire you, then HKS is the right place for you.
I hope you choose the place that helps you fill in your own blank. For me, that place was HKS. And I’d choose it again and again.
