About
Arnav Khatri was born and raised in San Jose, California. He attended Santa Clara University for his undergraduate studies and graduated in June 2024 with a BS in Public Health. During his undergraduate years, Arnav picked up concentrations in biology and biotechnology to complement his public health training with a strong scientific foundation. It was through public health that Arnav discovered his passion for advocacy. He spearheaded the creation of a Planned Parenthood Gen Action chapter on his campus, collaborating with campus organizations to distribute educational materials and contraceptives, and ultimately fostered conversations around reproductive justice, particularly in under-served communities. Arnav also participated in both public health and genetics research. The lab that further steered him into genetic counseling focused on better understanding morphogenesis through studying the RAS-MAPK pathway in forming C. elegans’ reproductive organs. Here, he learned about and used gene editing tools like the CRISPR-CAS9 system to cause mutations to two main transcription factors to understand their roles in the signaling pathway better.
Driven by a deep passion for public health, a love for genetics, and a personal connection to genetic disorders within his own family, Arnav is excited to pursue genetic counseling at UCLA through a culturally sensitive lens. He looks forward to bringing a diverse perspective to the field and integrating key public health principles to advance equitable, patient-centered care. Aside from academics, Arnav loves to thrift, create videos, and try new restaurants.