Originally from Guilin, China, Wenda Wang saw firsthand the complex challenges faced by rural communities while serving as a volunteer teacher in remote parts of southern China. After earning a bachelor’s degree in economics, he sought out the Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) program at the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy to gain hands-on skills in designing and implementing economic policies to improve the stability and success of such communities.
Recognizing the deep interconnections between social welfare and health equity, Wang pursued DGHI’s Global Health Graduate Certificate alongside the MIDP to strengthen his knowledge of health systems policy. Through courses such as Professor Gavin Yamey’s “Transforming Evidence into Action” policy seminar, Wang learned that “effective policy isn't driven by scientific evidence alone,” he says. “it is a sophisticated interplay of actors, power, agenda setting, law and governance.”
Following graduation, Wang plans to apply to Ph.D. programs in political economics and public policy, where he hopes to continue his research on how institutional structures influence development and welfare. He says completing the global health certificate will ensure he maintains an interdisciplinary perspective on his research and “to think more proactively about designing strategies for policy change, rather than just analyzing data in isolation.”
In a few words, how would you describe your experience in global health at Duke?
Challenging, meaningful, and eye-opening, DGHI broadened how I understand health and policy.
What was your favorite memory from your global health studies?
My favorite part of DGHI was learning to look at global health from both policy and ethics perspectives. The classes made me think more seriously about how health decisions affect real people.
Wang at the Sanford School of Public...
Is there a lesson you’ve learned from your global health experience that you will carry with you?
One lesson I will carry forward is that good policy needs both technical thinking and human understanding. DGHI taught me that global health is not just about systems, but also about people.
As you graduate, is there something for which you’re particularly grateful?
I am grateful for the chance to study in an interdisciplinary environment and learn from people with different backgrounds and perspectives.
