Tejas Chauhan

Tejas Chauhan, a Master of Public Health (MPH) student in Environmental Health at the University of Illinois Springfield represents the impact of the NEPHIP Scholarship in developing future public health leaders.

With a background in clinical medicine (B.A.M.S.), Tejas chose to transition from treating individual patients to address environmental and population health challenges affecting entire communities. The UIS MPH program strengthened his skills in environmental health, epidemiology, public health policy, and risk assessment while fostering a strong public health perspective

A key strength of the program was its supportive learning environment and applied coursework, which connected theory to real-world public health practice. Faculty mentorship and group projects played a vital role in building his confidence, leadership abilities, and commitment to community service.

Tejas learned about the NEPHIP internship through academic advising at UIS, and the program’s mission strongly aligned with his career goals. The application process further reinforced his dedication to protecting environmental and community health.

Looking ahead, Tejas plans to utilize the knowledge and experience gained through the MPH program and the NEPHIP Scholarship to advance environmental justice and contribute to building healthier, more resilient communities.