From Public Health to Pharma Professional: Alumus and Advisory Board Member Christopher Black EJB (PH) '09

This week on EJB Talks Stuart Shapiro talks to public health alumnus Christopher Black, Ph.D. Also a member of the Bloustein School Advisory Board who now works Senior Director, Real-World Evidence & Outcomes Research at Merck & Co., Inc., Chris shares his story of pursuing a public health degree after struggling with organic chemistry. With guidance from mentor Dr. Dona Schneider, retired Bloustein School professor and associate dean, Chris took a few years to work and teach before getting an advanced degree in public health, focusing on epidemiology and biostatistics. He also explains his 13-year career at Merck in health economics and outcomes research, where he helps design studies and evaluate new therapies, including individualized cancer treatment. Chris emphasizes how a public health background provides intellectual stimulation across industries and topics, encouraging soon-to-be graduates of the school to take every opportunity as a learning experience.