Sandeep Singh’s TEDxUBC talk explores the transformative power of lived experience in public health, particularly in the design of inclusive and effective health interventions for marginalized communities. Drawing on insights from his work with Volentia Translation and addiction outreach through the Students Overcoming Substance Use Disorder & Addictions Society of Canada (SOUDA), he illustrates how lived experiences can drive meaningful change. His talk emphasizes how public health initiatives become more impactful when shaped by the voices of those most affected, and highlights the importance of integrating diverse lived experiences to build a truly equitable healthcare system.Sandeep is deeply passionate about this topic, having witnessed firsthand how language and cultural barriers can limit access to healthcare, foster mistrust, and contribute to inequitable outcomes. Through his roles in healthcare translation and addiction outreach, he has seen the significant difference that bridging these gaps can make for individuals and communities. He is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to culturally relevant healthcare that respects their lived experiences. By embracing lived experience as a form of expertise, Sandeep believes public health systems can more effectively serve all communities. Sandeep is a Master of Public Health student at the University of Alberta. He graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Science, specializing in Life Sciences, Chemistry and Environmental Science. Having come to Canada at the age of 10, he witnessed firsthand the systemic barriers faced by immigrants and other marginalized communities. His lived experiences have led him to be involved in various initiatives addressing the lack of culturally sensitive healthcare. Sandeep is an Outreach Volunteer at Students Overcoming Substance Use Disorder and Addictions Society (SOUDA), a grassroots organization providing resources and training on drug overdose prevention in Punjabi, Hindi and English. Additionally, he is involved with Volentia Translation, an organization providing low-barrier language translation and interpretation services to enhance equitable access to healthcare services and increase diversity in clinical research. As a researcher and aspiring physician, Sandeep is committed to bridging cultural and linguistic gaps to advance health equity for underserved communities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx