Zulfiqar Ali Lokhandwala
Ali is a fifth-year MD-MPH student at Oregon Health & Science University, pursuing a career at the intersection of clinical medicine, public health and health equity. He completed his undergraduate studies in Biology and Global Health at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he cultivated a deep interest in clinical medicine and epidemiology. His time at UCLA exposed him to global perspectives on health disparities and fueled his commitment to addressing inequities in access to care. During medical school, Ali has been deeply engaged in expanding healthcare access for unhoused and underserved populations in Portland, Oregon. Through partnerships with community organizations, he has provided outreach, connected patients to vital resources and advocated for systems-level changes that promote equity. These experiences have reinforced his belief in the importance of integrating clinical care with population-level interventions.
As part of his dual-degree training, Ali completed a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. His research examined patient-level outcomes and variation in hospital practices among individuals with hematologic malignancies hospitalized with viral respiratory infections. For his Kean Fellowship, Ali will work in Molepolole, Botswana, investigating the epidemiology of pulmonary and extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, with a focus on morbidity and mortality. His project will include subgroup analyses stratified by HIV status and comparisons to pre-COVID hospitalization data. Ali is applying to internal medicine residency programs and aspires to a career in academic medicine, caring for critically ill patients while advancing health equity through research and global collaboration.
Determining current prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality of tuberculosis infection in patients in Kweneng District, Botswana. A sub-analysis of the ongoing observational study, 'Patient Care Delivery and Clinical Outcomes, Scottish Livingstone Hospital: Characterization and identification of quality improvement opportunities following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.'
Scottish Livingstone Hospital
Molepolole, Botswana
What does the Kean Fellowship mean to you?
I am deeply honored to be selected as a Kean Fellow. This fellowship provides an invaluable opportunity to explore the field of global health and tropical medicine while receiving immersive, on-the-ground training that will enhance my clinical and research development. Through this experience, I hope to better understand how systems of care and clinical practices differ across nations, and to contribute to knowledge that can improve outcomes for patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in Botswana.
What do you anticipate learning?
I anticipate gaining a deeper understanding of the epidemiology and clinical trajectory of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in Botswana. I look forward to learning about the treatment strategies most commonly employed within the community and how they are adapted in the context of HIV co-infection. Beyond clinical insights, I hope to broaden my understanding of how healthcare systems in Botswana are structured to serve their populations, the challenges they face in resource allocation, and the innovative solutions developed to expand access and improve outcomes.
This experience will also strengthen my research acumen by providing hands-on training in study design, data collection and analysis in a global health setting. Most importantly, I hope to deepen my cultural understanding of how health and illness are experienced, and to carry these lessons forward in shaping a career dedicated to advancing equity in medicine and public health.
What interests you about tropical medicine and what problems are you interested in solving?
My interest in tropical medicine stems from its intersection with infectious disease, health equity and systems of care. Many tropical diseases disproportionately affect underserved populations, where structural inequities and limited resources amplify the burden of illness. I am drawn to the challenge of understanding these complex dynamics and developing solutions that integrate clinical care, epidemiology and public health interventions.
Engaging in tropical medicine highlights the importance of investigating global illnesses not only for the health of affected communities but also for building resilient, interconnected systems that safeguard global health. Ultimately, I hope to contribute to advancing evidence-based practices, strengthening systems of care and reducing disparities in health outcomes, both globally and within marginalized communities in the United States.