Post by Zoya Sood

I didn’t expect to find myself eagerly waiting for lunch breaks to end so that I could get back to class, but that’s the kind of impact Professor Jolene Skordis had on me during the UCL India Summer School, where I explored the Economics and Health pathway. From the very first lecture, I was struck not just by her depth of knowledge but by her humility and curiosity. She taught with clarity, empathy, and so much warmth, and somehow, she also managed to be the kind of professor who asked us if we had something new she might not know yet. That openness created a space where learning felt like a shared journey, not a one-way street. Over the week, we dove into some of the most foundational and complex questions in health economics, comparing planned versus market-based health systems, debating equity versus efficiency, examining different types of markets and their failures, and analysing healthcare financing mechanisms across countries. We looked at forms of cost-sharing and how inefficiencies and inequities show up in real-world systems. What made it all the more powerful was how we were encouraged to approach every topic as a solvable problem, not just a theoretical one. We were given space to question, challenge, and share our ideas freely. Even when our thoughts were raw or idealistic, they were met with thoughtful discussion, not dismissal. Professor Jolene didn’t just teach us the frameworks or the formulas; she made the theory feel human. From group dilemmas that got philosophical to lectures that somehow made the Gini coefficient feel personal, each session was thoughtful, alive, and surprisingly fun. One of the most valuable things I took away was a stronger sense of confidence to think critically, speak up, and explore the intersection of economics and health more deeply. Grateful for this experience and for the kind of teaching that leaves a lasting imprint on how we learn, think, and lead. And thank you to the UCL team for featuring me in this post; it's an honour to be part of these shared memories. A special shoutout to everyone who made this experience seamless and memorable for all students who were a part of this program. Michael Collins 🔹Aimie Chapple Isra Black Professor Priti Parikh CEng FICE Darren Player Dr Alka Raman Prof James Kilner Arvind Vepa