Student Spotlight: Sai Srihas Borra (MPA-HPAM 2026)
Sai Srihas Borra (MPA-HPAM 2026) is an active member of the NYU and Wagner communities, serving as co-chair of the Wagner Health Network and as Social Sector Leadership Diversity Fellow through the NYU Changemaker Center.
How did your bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical sciences help lay the foundation for your interest in healthcare policy?
Studying pharmaceutical sciences taught me how complex it is to move a medicine from research to the people who need it. I learned the science behind drug formulation, regulation, and quality control, but also began noticing how many barriers exist outside the lab. The courses on regulatory affairs and healthcare economics made me realize that innovation only matters when it reaches patients affordably. That was my first push toward healthcare policy, understanding how decisions about pricing, access, and safety shape real outcomes.
What brought you to NYU Wagner?
I came to NYU Wagner because I wanted to connect my science background to the systems and people that make healthcare work. I was drawn to the Health Policy and Management program because it combines the analytical side, finance, strategy, and operations, with a focus on social impact. New York City’s healthcare landscape also felt like the right place to see how innovation and policy come together in practice. Wagner gave me a way to translate technical knowledge into tools for managing and improving healthcare delivery.
How has your time at Wagner impacted your journey so far?
Wagner has given me a clearer sense of direction. Courses like Health Finance, Health Economics, and Management & Leadership have helped me think about healthcare not just as a system of care, but as an industry that needs thoughtful management to stay equitable. My internship at the RTW Foundation built on that; it showed me how research, investment, and policy can align to make life-saving therapies more accessible. I’ve also learned that real change often happens through collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and business leaders, which has shaped how I want to work moving forward.
As co-chair of the Wagner Health Network, how do you hope to connect with and support other students interested in this field?
As co-chair of the Wagner Health Network, I want to make the space practical and approachable. A lot of students are trying to figure out where they fit in healthcare, whether that’s in policy, consulting, or life sciences. I want to help them connect with alumni, practitioners, and each other to explore those paths. My focus is on creating opportunities to learn from people actually working in the field, what challenges they’re facing, how they build partnerships, and how students can prepare to enter that space with purpose.
You're also a Social Sector Leadership Diversity Fellow through the NYU Changemaker Center. What has your experience with the Fellowship been like?
The SSLD Fellowship has been a grounding experience. It’s helped me slow down and think about why I want to work in healthcare in the first place. The program emphasizes values-based leadership and accountability to the communities we serve. It’s made me more aware of how leadership looks different in practice; sometimes it means asking better questions or making space for others’ voices. The fellowship has given me a stronger sense of responsibility to make sure that any policy or business decision I’m part of keeps equity at the center.
How do you hope to make an impact in healthcare policy after graduation?
I hope to work at the point where life sciences, business, and public policy meet, helping turn good ideas into sustainable solutions. Whether that means working with a healthcare consulting firm or a policy organization, my goal is to help bridge research and access. I want to focus on improving how therapies and technologies reach people, especially in communities that are often left behind. At the end of the day, I’m interested in practical solutions that make healthcare fairer, not just more advanced.