With more than 300 members, the Emerging Leaders community is a dynamic cross-sector network of Chicago’s visionary, globally minded, locally committed leaders.
Currently at Yale University, Dr. Aisha Sethi also has experience serving on the steering committee as an assistant director of outreach for the Center for Global Health at the University of Chicago. After attending medical school in Pakistan, she completed her post-doctoral fellowship, internship, and residency in dermatology at Yale University, where she also served as chief resident.
Before joining the CDC, Dr. Nirav Shah was in the global life sciences practice of the law firm Sidley Austin, LLP, and a lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago, where he taught courses in global public health and mathematical epidemiology. Shah also served as the chief economist of the Ministry of Health of Cambodia during his tenure as a Henry Luce Scholar.
Arshia Wajid is a healthcare executive with nearly 20 years of experience contributing to transformational journeys for many healthcare organizations, including Northwestern Medicine, Franciscan Health, Rush University System, Advocate Health, and Huron Consulting. She recently founded and is a current board member of American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP).
Kuliva Wilburn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from Drexel University, a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is currently a doctoral candidate in the DrPH division at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. She's a 2021 Eisenhower Fellow and serves on the board of several Chicago institutions.
Nitida Wongthipkongka is a social impact strategist and believes there is a significant role for the private sector to play in improving the quality of lives around the world. She works in the field of social enterprise, which is the utilization of market-based principles while creating social impact.
Reza Yassari directs the spinal oncology unit at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, in addition to being a professor of neurosurgery and the director of the residency program. He was a fellow at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics and previously taught at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, as faculty in the spine division.
Shawn Zhou is a strategy consultant with a passion for addressing global healthcare needs. In his previous role at Deloitte Consulting, Zhou led projects for multi-national life sciences companies on their R&D, business development, and commercial strategies. Recently, he worked with a pharmaceutical company to improve access to care for patients who struggle to afford medications.
