Penn Grad Wins Schwarzman Scholarship to Study in China

Rachel Ou just earned a golden ticket to bridge healthcare gaps across continents, and she's only getting started.

The University of Pennsylvania graduate was named a Schwarzman Scholar this month, joining 136 students from 40 countries for a fully funded master's degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in China. The program aims to build a global community of future leaders who understand China's role in world affairs.

For Ou, who identifies as Chinese American, this opportunity connects her heritage with her passion for medical innovation. She plans to explore how China is advancing in science, healthcare, and biotechnology before attending medical school.

"I think being in such a global cohort will help me to gain a very international perspective," Ou told The Daily Pennsylvanian. Her particular interest lies in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and how they might bridge healthcare access gaps between rural and urban communities.

At Penn, Ou didn't just dream about helping people. She lived it. She volunteered as a patient navigator at Penn's Center for Surgical Health and conducted nanoparticle drug delivery research in a bioengineering lab. She also served as president of Penn Chinese Calligraphy while juggling a biology major with minors in chemistry and design.

A Penn Global Seminar on U.S.-China relations sparked her fascination with international collaboration. "It really opened my eyes to the importance of understanding and having dialogue between countries in order to bring about healthcare innovation globally," she explained.

The Ripple Effect

Ou's journey shows how one scholarship can multiply into countless lives touched. The Schwarzman program doesn't just fund education. It includes cultural immersion experiences, internships, and professional development opportunities designed to create leaders who think beyond borders.

She credits Penn's tight-knit community of past Schwarzman Scholars for helping her navigate the competitive application process. Now she's ready to pay it forward. "I hope to give back when I'm an alum of the Schwarzman Scholars program," she said.

Penn has now sent 28 students to this prestigious program since its launch in 2016, building a network of graduates committed to global understanding and cooperation.

Ou's story reminds us that the next generation of healthcare innovators isn't just thinking locally—they're thinking globally, one scholarship at a time.