Samir Khanna, left, and Akunna Chilaka. Photos by Han Parker
Samir Khanna and Akunna Chilaka named Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellows
Two students from UCI urban planning and public policy master’s programs are recipients of the Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship.
Presented by the Partners for Better Health nonprofit, the competitive fellowship is aimed at master and doctoral level students interested in health policy and related disciplines. It is named after Randall Lewis, the senior executive vice president – marketing of the family owned and Upland-based development firm Lewis Group of Companies.
Here's more about the Lewis fellowship recipients:
SAMIR KHANNA
Since completing his undergraduate degree in public health a decade ago from Santa Clara University — where he also went on to earn an MS in finance — Samir Khanna has mostly worked on the business side of healthcare. Seeking to merge the worlds of health and planning, the California Planning Foundation scholarship recipient entered UCI’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program in 2023.
“Urban planning has such a significant impact on health, and it's important to understand how an individual, city, or even company can shape the physical world around us,” Khanna explains.
An email from MURP Assistant Director Jorge Padilla to students this past January identified fellowships that the cohort may be eligible for. The Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship stood out for Khanna, who had followed some of the previous projects on the Partners for Better Health website.
“Because the fellowship was focused on the intersection of health and planning,” Khanna says, “it felt like a good fit and a chance for me to further my work at this intersection.”
Fellowship hopefuls submit a project proposal with their applications. Khanna’s project involves research into the City of Ontario, CA’s programs on naturally occurring affordable housing.
Having found the MURP program “informative and a lot of fun so far,” he appreciates that the Lewis fellowship will help keep him on track to complete the program this school year.
“I’ve enjoyed learning the intricacies of land use policy and law, understanding how real estate developers consider working with cities, and utilizing some of my business background to better understand how cities and real estate developers weigh their decisions,” he says.
Khanna singles out praise for urban planning and public policy Professor David Feldman, Associate Professor Maria Rendón, recently retired Professor Scott Bollens and Paul Merage School of Business lecturer Justin Basie. “All have been so supportive in enabling me to better express how I am seeking to work at the intersection of health and planning,” Khanna says.
“We are very proud of Samir’s achievements as a MURP student in our department,” says Ajay Garde, the program’s faculty director and an urban planning and public policy associate professor. “His research on the City of Ontario’s programs on naturally occurring affordable housing is supported by the Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship. We take this opportunity to thank the Partnership for Better Heath for supporting Samir’s research with this prestigious and competitive fellowship and look forward to the findings of his research.”
Once the MURP degree is in hand, Khanna’s goal is “to work with multiple parties—cities, real estate developers, hospitals, health insurance plans, homelessness organizations, etc.—across Southern California to create places where community members can live better, healthier lives.”
AKUNNA CHILAKA
Like Khanna, Akunna Jeanette Chilaka learned about the Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship via an email sent from a UCI program leader, in her case Master of Public Policy (MPP) Director and urban planning and public policy Associate Professor Nicola Ulibarri.
“What really caught my eye on the fellowship was its focus on two areas I’m passionate about: local healthcare access and equity,” Chilaka explains. “The chance to gain hands-on experience in a healthcare organization, plus the mentorship opportunities, made it a perfect fit for me.”
As part of the fellowship, she is working with the Inland Empire Health Plan’s IEHP Foundation to devise a research project aimed at helping to implement the nonprofit’s Vibrant Village Community concept and 2025 strategic plan.
The pride of Etiwanda High School and UC Santa Barbara, where she earned BAs in political science and public policy in 2022, is on track to finish UCI’s MPP program in June 2025.
“So far, the MPP program has been a great experience,” Chilaka says. “It can be challenging, but I have gained so much knowledge and experience in policy analysis, various policy issue areas, and discerning how public policies impact different communities. I truly believe the skills I am acquiring will be essential for future work in equity-minded public health policy and social advocacy.”
“We’re proud of Akunna’s recognition and look forward to supporting her learning through the fellowship program,” says Ulibarri. “She is an excellent student who will have an impactful career in California health policy.”
Besides Ulibarri, a faculty member who stands out for Chilaka is one of the first she encountered in the MPP program: Water UCI Director and urban planning and public policy Professor David Feldman.
“I took his Intro to Public Policy and Policy & Ethics classes during my first year,” she says. “Professor Feldman’s insights and expertise in water and environmental policy really aided in broadening my policy perspectives beyond my focus areas. His good-nature and teaching methods also really shaped how I approach the MPP program.”
Chilaka also credits her classmates, including recent alum Eileen Faith Paguio-Palarca (BA psychological science ’22, MPP ’24), for having “been a huge part of my learning. Working alongside them has been a key highlight of the program.”
— Matt Coker