Sayreville, N.J., native Nafia Naveed is excited to be part of Arcadia’s dual degree program in Master of Public Health and Physician Assistant.

“I have always been an explorer, and love to try new things,” she said. “My interest in medicine and love for adventures makes the flexible PA career perfect for me. I look forward to contributing to the healthcare field using systems-level thinking along with a public health lens.”

A Rutgers University graduate, Naveed has hit the ground running at Arcadia by securing an internship at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Currently,  she is helping to recruit participants for the Multiethnic Observational Study in American Asian and Pacific Islander Communities (MOSAAIC) study.

“As an intern, I have been able to gain insight into the importance of research in a hands-on manner,” she explained. “Studies such as this one are crucial to healthcare equity and social justice so that we can eventually deliver precisely informed and culturally competent care, improving healthcare outcomes.”

Individuals interested in participating need to fill out a questionnaire and be seen for a physical. Those wanting more information may contact Naveed directly at nnaveed@arcadia.edu.

“Historically, Asian Americans have been lumped into a singular category,” she said. “Therefore, this study is working towards creating a comprehensive dataset with collection sites across the nation, including Fox Chase, Stanford, New York University, and others.”

On campus, Naveed is hoping to continue developing meaningful relationships with those in her cohort.

“[Those connections] will help me acquire the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the ever-changing field of medicine,” she said.

Naveed likes to spend her free time–should she have any–creating through various mediums, including sketching, painting, scrapbooking, knitting, web designing, and Arabic calligraphy.