Risa - Master’s in Public Health Sciences

Hej! My name is Risa, a Japanese master’s student in public health sciences starting my studies in 2023 at Karolinska Institutet. I recently moved back to Stockholm where I grew up, after spending some time in both Southern California, where I obtained a bachelor’s of science in anthropology with a minor in global health, and Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, where I worked for a federal agency and a local non-profit organization.

Despite finding a home in the sun-kissed, tropical locations surrounded by warm, turquoise waters in recent years, attending KI has always been a part of my future plans. Ever since learning about the late Professor Hans Rosling, a former professor at KI, in middle school, I slowly found myself drawn to public health. My interest grew in my teenage years, as I discovered that health promotion is not limited to the clinical field but rather, it can be enhanced by integrating multiple disciplines, using public health as a bridge between these fields.

With my passion for using a multidisciplinary approach, finding comfort in collaborating with global peers, and a small push from close friends attending KI, it felt like a natural step for me to apply to KI.

In my free time, I enjoy curating playlists and going on scenic walks! A fun fact is that I’m fond of banana and curry pizza.