Alumni Spotlight: Ani Keverian, BSHS

When Ani Keverian began thinking about choosing a college and how she saw her career path taking shape, she saw one word, bright and bold and clear: healthcare.

Beyond that, though, Ani was open to what that might mean for her future. The healthcare industry is broad, and whether she was supposed to be in nursing, physical therapy, pre-med, or any of the other dozens of options, Ani was confident she would find her path.

A thorough researcher on all things in her life, Ani quickly discovered the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). She reviewed the many programs across multiple fields and was drawn to the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS). What appealed to her about this innovative program was its flexibility and customizable curriculum.

With three different tracks offered, the BSHS program gives students the versatility to choose between clinical, management, or education career paths. In addition, the personalized attention from the program director and career advisers lets each student find the right path.

“I received some excellent guidance and mentoring from my professors and adviser,” remembers Ani. “They would check in with me regularly, asking if there was anything that was particularly sparking my interest. It was the perfect way to step back and reflect: What courses did I like, which ones not so much, and how do I move forward? “

As professors suggested particular classes that they thought suited her interests, such as health promotion, health psychology, and stress and illness, Ani found herself both excelling in the subject matter and charting her own course in public health.

Today, Ani is a benefits coordinator in the human resources department at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. One of her roles in this capacity is to help initiate and maintain a number of employee wellness initiatives.

“My behavioral science, health promotion, and public health background from BSHS really help me in my day-to-day work,” says Ani. “A lot of what I do is help create opportunities for employees to promote their own well-being, whether that’s through our Weight Watchers pilot program, or Walk Wednesdays, where we engage employees to step outside and get some fresh air, or even financial wellness seminars.”

A Solo Adventure

The BSHS program’s innate flexibility also meant that Ani was able to achieve another goal she had set for herself before starting college: studying abroad. This task was not without its challenges, because she needed to piece together her various credit requirements to make sure she didn’t fall behind.

But that didn’t stop Ani. She presented her idea to her adviser, the dean, and all other necessary parties, even bringing her dad with her to a meeting with the registrar to make sure she had covered all of her bases.

Fast forward a few months, and Ani was off to Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, for one of the best adventures of her life as a study-abroad participant. She was able to fulfill her electives while in Australia, taking distinctive courses in aboriginal history, drug use across cultures, and film.

To make the study-abroad experience seem even more meant-to-be, Ani actually ended up meeting, through social media, someone who shared her last name and happened to live in Sydney. She then discovered 40 additional Keverians, also originally from Armenia like her own family, living in Australia.

“All-in-all, it was a great learning opportunity.”

Looking Ahead

For Ani, working at Dana-Farber broadens her horizons to see what other possibilities the healthcare industry might hold for her. For now, she continues to discover a little more about herself and what she enjoys about the health sciences field every day.

“What I would love for someone to know about the BSHS program is that if you are unsure exactly what you want to do, it is okay to not know! With this health sciences degree, you get a really great, solid foundation to bring into the healthcare industry, and you can go in so many different directions. You’re able to customize your degree accordingly. At the end of the four years, you can really say, ‘You know what? I think I know what I want to do now.’”

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) program.