As Nicholas Quansah completes his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at UTMB's School of Public Health and Population Health (SPPH), he reflects on his journey from laboratory scientist to public health advocate with a vision for addressing global antimicrobial resistance challenges.
A Mission Beyond Borders
Nicholas Quansah didn't come to the United States simply to advance his career. He came with a mission that transcends national boundaries.
"I'm not doing this just for my home country or for myself," Nicholas emphasizes. "I'm looking at the bigger picture, which is the world."
Growing up in Ghana, Nicholas witnessed firsthand the challenges of healthcare delivery in a developing nation. His early experiences shaped a worldview that would eventually guide him across continents in pursuit of solutions to global health challenges.
From Slides to Systems: A Bigger Picture Emerges
Nicholas's journey began in the clinical laboratories of Ghana's healthcare system. As a Medical Laboratory Scientist at the Catholic Diocesan Health Services and later as a Senior Medical Laboratory Scientist at Presbyterian Health Services in Dormaa Ahenkro, he mastered the technical skills of diagnostic medicine.
But Nicholas saw beyond the microscope.
While conducting tests and maintaining quality control in the lab, he became increasingly concerned about a silent crisis unfolding before him: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The concerning patterns he observed in routine susceptibility testing sparked questions that couldn't be answered within the confines of a laboratory.
"Working in the lab, I could diagnose infections and identify which antibiotics would work, but I couldn't address why resistance was increasing or how to prevent it at a population level," Nicholas recalls. "I realized I needed to expand my perspective."
This realization marked the first major turning point in his professional journey – the moment he decided to pursue epidemiology and public health.
Crossing Oceans for Cures
The decision to leave his established career in Ghana and pursue graduate studies in the United States wasn't easy. It meant leaving behind family, friends, and professional stability to venture into the unknown.
"America is going to give me that leverage to impact recovery in the world as a whole," Nicholas explains about his motivation to make this life-changing move.
In 2023, Nicholas arrived at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston to pursue his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. The transition brought both challenges and opportunities – navigating a new educational system, adapting to cultural differences, and balancing academic demands with part-time work as a Medical Laboratory Technologist.
Yet Nicholas approached these challenges with the same determination that brought him across the Atlantic. He quickly established himself as a dedicated student with valuable clinical insights that complemented his epidemiological training.
Lab Coats to Lancet
Nicholas's background gave him a unique advantage in the academic setting. While many students were learning laboratory techniques and disease characteristics from textbooks, Nicholas contributed perspectives from years of frontline diagnostic work.
This distinctive viewpoint caught the attention of faculty members working on tuberculosis research. Soon, Nicholas was collaborating with UTMB researchers and international partners on a commentary about tuberculosis drug resistance testing, which was published in The Lancet.
"The publication was validating," Nicholas says. "It showed that my experiences from Ghana had real value in advancing global health conversations."
Beyond academic contributions, Nicholas embraced community service opportunities. He volunteered at the Texas Public Health Association Conference and served food at Access Care of Coastal Texas, Inc. These experiences grounded his academic work in the reality of public health practice.
Mapping the Microbes Ahead
As Nicholas completes his MPH in Epidemiology, he stands at another crucial juncture. His immediate goals include securing a position as an Epidemiologist, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Research Coordinator, or Public Health Analyst where he can apply his unique combination of laboratory expertise and epidemiological training.
But Nicholas's ambitions extend further. He plans to pursue a doctorate in Infectious Diseases, deepening his expertise in the area where he believes he can make the greatest impact – combating antimicrobial resistance on a global scale.
"The challenge of antimicrobial resistance requires both technical understanding and systems thinking," Nicholas explains. "We need people who can work across disciplines and borders to address this threat."
Grounded in Ghana, Growing in America, and Thinking Globally
While Nicholas's journey has taken him far from Ghana's laboratories, his mission remains connected to the challenges he observed there. His goal is not simply personal advancement but leveraging his position and knowledge to improve health outcomes globally.
"What drives me is knowing that the work I'm doing could eventually help healthcare workers back home in Ghana and in similar settings around the world," Nicholas reflects. "When I think about addressing antimicrobial resistance or improving infectious disease management, I'm thinking about creating solutions that work not just in well-resourced settings but everywhere."
Nicholas's story exemplifies how personal experience can fuel a global mission and his journey continues to unfold – guided by a vision of health equity that knows no borders.
"I believe that with the right training, partnerships, and persistence, we can address even the most complex health challenges," Nicholas says. "That's what keeps me moving forward."
Nicholas Quansah graduated with his MPH in Epidemiology from UTMB SPPH in May 2025. He is pursuing career opportunities in infectious disease epidemiology research, with plans to begin doctoral studies focused on antimicrobial resistance in the near future.