One of the strengths of CSUN is its culturally diverse student body. The student population of the College of Health and Human Development has recently increased its diversity and talent by hosting Salma Sallout, a medical doctor from Cairo, Egypt. Sallout is a Fulbright scholar who has come to CSUN for the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program in Health Sciences. She wants to use what she is learning here to improve health conditions in Egypt.
Sallout said she was drawn to the public health field because as an MD in Egypt she has witnessed, first-hand, the critical need for public health programs and services there. “I wanted to come to the US to learn how people think, work and manage their problems.” Sallout works at the National Research Center (NRC) in Giza. When she returns, she plans to work on health promotion and disease prevention programs among adults.
When the Fulbright Scholarship was announced, Sallout said she considered other American universities, including George Washington and Emory Universities, and UC Davis. She said she chose CSUN because of an affinity for the way Californians approach life. “I felt it was the best place to live the US experience,” she said. Sallout added that her choice for CSUN was based in on the strength of the accredited MPH program and also partly on the idea of the “California Dream.” She relates, “I always wanted to be in California, which is the ‘touristic’ state for us. “And I chose the CSUN MPH because the program is broad and the description covered all of my interests.”
While still very new to CSUN (she started in fall ’15), Sallout is fully integrated into campus life. She joined the board of the Masters of Public Health Student Association last fall, and this spring, she has also become a member of the International Student Association. Sallout is also an active member of the Student Panel for International Curriculum and Education or SPICE.
SPICE, a program of the International and Exchange Student Center, organizes classroom visits across campus where international students share information about their countries and cultures with CSUN students.
Sallout said she enjoys the cultural diversity of CSUN. “I like how diverse the community is, and how there are a variety of activities for students.” Sallout is an emerging leader who will undoubtedly inspire many CSUN students and foster positive connections between the United States and Egypt.
“The most important things I learned last semester are how to do organized research and make use of the information in my studies,” Sallout said. “Studies, working with my professor, is also improving my academic writing and practicing my language. Getting involved with student organizations is opening up my world, and I’m excited about bringing these perspectives back to Cairo after I graduate.” Sallout plans to return to Cairo in Summer, 2017.
Suzanne Spear with Jean O'Sullivan
Sp 2016