EP182 Fast-Track to Impact: Navigating the 4+1 Program with Nehanda Akili and Anthony Escamilla

In this episode, we explore the power of the 4+1 Program at NYU GPH, an accelerated pathway that allows students to earn both their undergraduate and master's degrees in just five years. We are joined by Nehanda Akili, an MS Biostatistics student, and Anthony Escamilla, a pre-PA undergraduate at Gallatin who is on track to pursue the Community Health Science and Practice concentration during the MPH year of the program, to discuss how this program provides a competitive edge for future healthcare leaders. Nehanda shares her journey from NYU Gallatin's individualized study-where she concentrated on the intersection of fascism and public health—to mastering data science and R coding. She discusses the importance of GPH's flexibility, which allowed her to balance 18-credit semesters while serving as President of the Black Women's Health Collective. Anthony, an EMT and President of the Latino Pre-Health Society and Central Americans For Empowerment, explains how the program allows him to connect public health, cultural identity, and patient care, bridging the gap between social theory and clinical practice. From navigating the application process to utilizing the ecosystem of faculty support, Nehanda and Anthony offer a roadmap for students looking to maximize their time at NYU. This conversation highlights how the 4+1 Program turns academic ambition into real-world impact. To learn more about the NYU School of Global Public Health, and how our innovative programs are training the next generation of public health leaders, visit

You can listen to EP182 Fast-Track to Impact: Navigating the 4+1 Program with Nehanda Akili and Anthony Escamilla online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

EP182 Fast-Track to Impact: Navigating the 4+1 Program with Nehanda Akili and Anthony Escamilla is an episode from I AM GPH by NYU School of Global Public Health.

This episode is 25:06 long.

This episode was published on May 7, 2026.

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