From VCU to Harvard: How Study Abroad Shaped a Global Health Career
VCU alumna Neha Pondicherry’s unconventional path shows how diverse experiences can lead to extraordinary opportunities.
When Neha stepped off the plane in Northern Ireland as a Virginia Commonwealth University freshman, she had no idea that a three-week study abroad program would reshape her entire career trajectory. Now completing her Master of Public Health at Harvard, she credits those early international experiences with opening doors she never imagined.
The Spark: Immersion Over Tourism
Neha’s transformative journey began with Meredith Sisson’s Honors College Study Abroad Program, exploring Catholic-Protestant conflicts in Northern Ireland. “That was the first time I had traveled by myself to a new country,” Neha recalled. “We had the opportunity to really delve into the depths of the conflicts from both sides.”
The experience showed Neha the profound value of stepping outside her comfort zone and understanding communities completely unlike her own.
Going Deeper: Spain and Self-Discovery
Inspired by Northern Ireland, Neha spent her junior year in Sevilla, Spain. Beyond improving her Spanish, she discovered something deeper: the possibility of truly belonging somewhere entirely different from home. Her favorite memories include backpacking through Italy with international friends and painting with oil pastels in a park that once hosted the World Exhibition fair.
“By the end, I felt like I really could see myself living there for a few years,” she said.
The Unconventional Pre-Med Path
Here’s where Neha’s story gets really interesting. While she did complete the typical pre-med requirements, including wet lab and dry lab research, she created her own interdisciplinary major in International Health, with a minor in Religious Studies at VCU. Most importantly, she balanced traditional pre-med activities with diverse experiences that genuinely interested her.
“I wasn’t a typical medical school applicant by any means,” Neha said. “The stuff that makes you stick out, the stuff that makes you a strong applicant, is all the extracurriculars that really showcase your passion.”
Neha attended the University of California, San Francisco, for medical school and then took a gap year during her studies to pursue her passion for global health by earning an M.P.H.
Her advice to current students: “Find the stuff that fuels you and let it be diverse. Keep doing the stuff that makes you you and makes you unique.”
From Travel to Global Health Leadership
Those international experiences weren’t just personal growth—they laid the foundation for Neha’s career in global health. Combined with her Indian heritage and frequent trips to India, these experiences sparked her passion for understanding how public health systems function across different cultures.
After being selected as a Marshall Scholarship finalist, Neha received the Zuckerman Fellowship for Harvard’s M.P.H. program.
“Being at Harvard for the last year was probably the best year of my life,” she said.
The VCU Foundation
Throughout her journey, Neha credits VCU’s National Scholarship Office as instrumental to her success. NSO Director Jeff Wing and NSO Associate Director Meredith Sisson. Ph,D, have remained mentors long after graduation, helping with everything from scholarship interviews to medical school applications.
“They’re really like ride or die for their alumni,” Neha said. “Mr. Wing met with me multiple times while I was applying to the Marshall Scholarship, and Dr. Sisson has helped me write my personal statement for every major application—med school, M.P.H., residency.”
The Takeaway
Neha’s message to students is refreshingly honest: don’t be afraid to color outside the lines of traditional academic expectations. If you’re choosing between extra shadowing hours and a unique internship opportunity, “do that,” she said. “That is unique, that is special, that will help you so much further along in your life.”
Her work with organizations such as Save the Children and Partners In Health builds directly on the cultural competency she developed through travel and study abroad. “Studying abroad just broadens your mental horizons,” she said. “Having the ability to empathize with people from different cultures is an amazing experience.”
As she enters medical residency, Neha’s journey offers a powerful reminder: sometimes the most valuable education happens outside the traditional classroom, and the courage to pursue what genuinely interests you can lead to extraordinary opportunities.
The National Scholarship Office at VCU continues to support students and alumni pursuing prestigious fellowships and international opportunities.
Categories NSO Student Features