My name is Virat Agrawal, and I am a doctoral student in the Public Policy and Management program at the Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California (USC). I am also a Graduate Research Assistant at the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, where I have been working on COVID-19 projects since 2020. My research interest is focused on Health Policy, COVID-19 Policies, Health Behavioral Economics and Preventative Care Technology.
I was born and raised in the eastern state of Bihar, India. I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) University, India, and a Master’s in the same from USC Viterbi School of Engineering. After graduation, I worked in medical devices for three years. The combined nine years of academic and professional experience in medical devices showed me how improved public policy could scale the impact of medical innovation.
I am on a mission to learn the skills that will enable me to find solutions to the most pressing issues in our healthcare system through evidence-based research, collaborative learning and sharing of ideas. My vision is to accomplish affordable and accessible primary healthcare for all, and a healthcare ecosystem focused on preventative care, instead of curative care. In my free time, I like to explore different cuisines and cafes in Los Angeles, read up on current affairs, listen to music and policy podcasts, play tennis, or go for a walk on the beach.