William Chakar will graduate with a Master of Science in Global Medicine on May 13. (Photo/Courtesy of William Chakar)

Master of Science in Global Medicine graduate William Chakar takes addressing health care needs personally. This Southern California native became deeply interested in health care and health advocacy while witnessing his mother’s battle with breast cancer and through his participation in events such as the UCLA Relay for Life and Susan G. Komen Walk.

In the Global Medicine program, Chakar expanded both his knowledge of health challenges and his desire to influence impactful responses while working on class projects addressing issues such as hospital service optimization, broadening HIV Prophylaxis and assessing global responses to non-communicable disease.

Chakar said his favorite Global Medicine experience was the time he spent on a Dental Care for Children trip to Ensenada, Mexico, where he assisted dental students from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC in their delivery of care to underserved communities.

Chakar will continue working to make more healthy smiles possible as he begins studies at the Ostrow School in fall 2017. An active member of the Los Angeles Lebanese community, Chakar hopes one day to use his training to help address the health care needs of those in Lebanon.