Can you share about your path to public health and how you got to where you are today?

Sure. Like many people in public health, I didn’t take a traditional route—if such a thing even exists in this field. I’ve spoken with many PhD students and faculty, and most of them say, “My path wasn’t the usual one,” which makes me think there really is no usual path. No one says, when they’re 4, “I want to be an epidemiologist”, you know?

Growing up, I was always interested in helping people. My dad is a physician, and we’re a first-generation Syrian-American family. Watching him work in middle America while also navigating being an immigrant provider and the complexities interplaying within the context of healthcare shaped how I thought about health and community. I’ve always been curious about the intersectionality of the lived experience–sociopolitical impacts and people’s health. Initially, I thought the only way to help people was by becoming a provider myself. But at some point, I realized I was more interested in pushing the envelope, rethinking systems rather than providing direct care alone. That mindset led me toward public health and research.

What led you to focus specifically on sexual and reproductive health (SRH)?

It wasn’t a direct line. I started in cardiovascular research, particularly exploring inequities affecting Black Americans at risk for heart disease. Working in research provided a structure–for example the structure of a literature review–to more clearly understand structural barriers to accessing care among this community, whether broadly or very localized like in Boston where we see differences in access and health care delivery based on neighborhood. I learned how important it is for people with lived experiences to be involved in research to make sure that the full narrative is being presented. 

That experience got me thinking more about systemic barriers—how structural changes affect health access. SRH emerged as a space where inequities are especially visible, and where so much of the conversation ties back to identity, policy, and geography. What are the sources of the reasons why people are not able to access the same quality and types of care? I was drawn to that complexity, especially as I started working as a researcher at Planned Parenthood.

When people think about sexual and reproductive health and rights, the conversation usually centres around having babies or not having babies. What are some common misconceptions about sexual and reproductive health?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that it’s only about abortion or pregnancy. But sexual and reproductive health (SRH) includes everything from wellness visits to STI screenings to access to gender-affirming care. At Planned Parenthood, we offer a wide range of services—often to people who don’t have health insurance or can’t afford care elsewhere. When I started to work at Planned Parenthood I was like, Wow, we offer a range of services—it’s almost like we need structural support!

But here’s the challenge: we’re expected to do everything for everyone, often without adequate support. High turnover, low pay, and chronic underfunding make it hard to sustain the work. Funding decisions—especially in a political climate where SRH is constantly under attack—reflect a lack of perceived value for this kind of care. That’s what we’re constantly up against. 

The recent funding cuts have also shown how SRH or specialities that have always been attacked have had to create sort of safety nets to sustain while others fields that are being defunded don’t have that. Even though it’s not great, it’s been interesting to see that we’re prepared for moments like this because we’re continually being defunded.

It is interesting how the struggle for access to SRH informs how the organisation runs? In the day-to-day work, is there a sense of “we’re in this fight”?

Definitely. One of the most powerful things about working at Planned Parenthood is how committed people are. Everyone—from clinical staff to admin—is there because they believe in what we’re doing. The providers are underpaid compared to their peers, staff work on the weekends and are often regularly walking past protesters just to get into the building. It’s hard, especially with the uncertainty and how unstable things are now.

Despite all that, there's a strong spirit of solidarity. People are here because patients deserve care, and they believe in the mission of Planned Parenthood. That drive keeps us going. I think I hadn’t seen that anywhere else I’ve worked. It’s been really inspiring.

Can you talk about your work now and the projects you're currently involved in?

Absolutely. I work on both clinical and social science research projects. One of our major studies is about assessing the acceptability of SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) into SRH clinics, which is an integrated behavioral health model currently used in many primary and point-of-care settings to refer patients at risk for alcohol and/or substance use disorder to treatment, if desired. We’ve started working with providers at our Boston clinic to see how realistic it is to integrate this model of care within a family planning setting. 

We’re also working on some studies aimed at further understanding patient’s attitudes surrounding IUD decision-making. One of the studies looks into the factors considered when patients who experience bleeding and/or cramping decide to keep or remove their IUDs. In particular, we are interested in understanding the social constructs that may influence those decisions—things like peer advice, online forums, and provider counseling. One surprise? Some participants actually reported better symptoms after getting an IUD–less bleeding, more manageable cramps–which we hadn’t originally accounted for.

How does the current political climate affect your work?

There’s no separating SRH from politics. Every day brings a new court decision or funding cut. Our affiliate has been lucky in some cases, but it’s always a question of when the next impact will hit. That said, I really appreciate our leadership’s transparency. While I hear about decisions coming down from the news, the tendency has been to communicate quickly and clearly to staff about what these changes mean for us. That kind of openness helps reduce fear and keep morale up. But yes, it’s heavy. And it shapes everything we do.

If politics and funding weren’t barriers and SRH was a blossoming field that everyone wanted to put money into—what would your dream work in SRH look like?

That’s such a great question. Honestly, if SRH were fully supported and equitable, my clinic might not even exist in its current form—because people wouldn’t need to rely on it as a safety net. 

As someone who identifies outside of the gender binary, I’d focus on gaps in gender-affirming care. For example, trans people on testosterone are told it's not a reliable form of birth control, but there’s not enough research or guidance beyond that. I’d love to better understand the intersections between gender-affirming care, unplanned pregnancies, and abortion access. We need more research on those lived experiences. I’d also be interested in the link between health literacy and research. It seems that there’s a lapse in understanding about issues that people are facing, leading to a lack of information to help them navigate things more easily, which can be really detrimental to certain populations when there is no investment in research. 

What sort of things are you involved in outside of work? Any community organizing or activities like that? 

Yes. I organize with students around advocating for an end to the Palestinian genocide. I also help run a queer mosque in Boston. We host services every first Friday of the month for folks who are queer and Muslim to gather, pray, and be in community. Sometimes just having a space to exist is a kind of healing.

What advice would you give MPH students or early-career public health professionals?

Ask yourself why you're here. What drew you to public health? What inequity or barrier do you want to understand or change?

Once you find your “why,” look for roles that are trying to solve that specific problem. Don’t just search for “public health jobs.” Look for opportunities that align with the kind of impact you want to make—whether that's in policy, research, community work, or healthcare systems.

Thanks to Aseel for taking some time out of their day to chat with us!