MeSH Students & Faculty
MeSH Students
MeSH students have the opportunity to take advantage of the University of Chicago's long tradition of interdisciplinary scholarship and exchange. Students may participate in numerous seminars and weekly workshops. The degree of senior faculty involvement in these workshops is unique and provides students with an opportunity to engage with leading faculty throughout the university.
Anupam Bapu Jena
Anupam Bapu Jena
Anupam Bapu Jena is a third-year medical student who received his PhD in Economics in 2006. His PhD thesis was entitled “Essays in the Economics of Health and Fertility.” Bapu recently received the great distinction of winning the 2007 Eugene Garfield Economic Impact of Medical and Health Research Award. With his research mentor Tomas J. Philipson, PhD, Bapu and Dr. Philipson were recognized for their study on “Who Benefits from New Medical Technologies? Estimates of Consumer and Producer Surpluses for HIV/AIDS Drugs,” published in Forum for Health Economics and Policy. Bapu's research has focused on the economic value of medical innovation, implications of cost-effectiveness policies for technological growth, and the economics of fertility. Prior to medical school, Bapu attended MIT and received his degrees in Biology and Economics.
Of the MeSH program, Bapu notes, “It is really terrific to have a great group of scholars working on different issues with a common link being the application of social sciences to medical care. I think the entering students are very fortunate to have such a structured program in place where there is now a breadth of not just faculty, but also students, who are working on these interesting issues.”
Jennifer Karlin
Jennifer Karlin
"There are few programs in the country that provide the financial and institutional support needed to develop the diverse skills that will allow me to be a practicing physician and proficient social scientist. The MeSH program is one of these." Jennifer Karlin started the MeSH program in the fall of 2004, and is currently in her second year of graduate school, having finished her pre-clinical medical school courses. Jennifer arrived at the University of Chicago with a vast array of disciplines in her background. She has worked as a health care policy analyst, a trade book author, a community integration specialist, and a paralegal casehandler. As she pursues her MD/PhD, Jennifer notes that "the MeSH program is special because of its strong foundation in mentorship. Pursuing dual degrees and developing a cohesive career, as such, is difficult. Fortunately, the MeSH program is set up to provide mentorship for younger students who are just developing their careers."
