Nasara Al-Hassan
Alumna Nasara Al-Hassan (Medical Science with Professional Training Year, 2021) has recently graduated with a Master's of Public Health from Imperial College London with a current interest in women’s health research. She was also the President of the African Caribbean (ACS) society during her studies at Exeter. We spoke to her ahead of Black History Month 2023 to hear her advice for students and alumni.
What does Black History month mean to you and why is it important to you?
Black History Month is important to me because it celebrates those who have gone before us and paved the way for us to excel and thrive. Nothing exists in the present without what occurred in the past, so it is necessary to pay homage to that and to also acknowledge how far we have come and how much further there is to go. This month is also a celebration of the diverse beautiful cultures that make up the Black race and they deserve to be put on display and appreciated for all their beauty!
Do you have any Black female role models that inspire you? Who and why?
There are a lot of independent, successful women within my family specifically my Auntie Azara and Auntie Noshie who motivate me to be the best version of myself every day! These women have shown and continue to show me it is possible to have it all as a black woman. The career, the family life, happiness, ambition, and success. All successful Black women around the world are an inspiration to me because life is more difficult for us and to persevere and overcome any obstacles we face on the journey to success is a great achievement.
What career or personal achievement/s are you most proud of?
There are a few things I am proud of:
- BSc Medical Sciences with a professional training year at the University of Exeter (2017-21)
- Exeter ACS President (2018-19)
- Exeter Guild award for outstanding contribution to equality and diversity (2018-19)
- Partnering with the Exeter Student Guild to introduce the first ever Black History Month campaign on campus
- Publication in the Communicator magazine for the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators
- Launching my own foundation, The Golden Chain Foundation, based in Ghana to help kids aged 12-18 through school successfully
- Master of Public Health at Imperial College London (2022-23)
- Pioneering master’s dissertation research on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (awaiting feedback to be published)
What is the legacy you’d like to leave behind as your place in Black history?
As Black women it is not and should not be expected of us to have to live through our suffering. We are underrepresented as women in research and further underrepresented as Black women. I would like to leave my mark on Women’s health research, the Black female voice is often not heard in the medical world and a clear example of this is shown in Black maternal mortality rates. I would like to and will be the voice for Black women in research and will dedicate my expertise to developing research representative of the Black female experience especially in under researched conditions such as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).
Whilst remembering our history is important it also provides an opportunity to look to the future – what is a change you’d like to see or what would you like that to look like?
Equality amongst all races, and equity between men and women using diverse, representative research capturing the experiences of all individuals to better inform policies implemented.
Do you have any advice for students at the University and other alumni?
Live a life that makes you and only you happy. Never be content not striving to be the best version of yourself, you view and enjoy life from a different perspective when you actively pursue betterment. Continue to learn and always be open to the places, people, and circumstances you can learn from. Most importantly always stay true to yourself and choose yourself first before any person or opportunity.