v-INSPIRE Intern, FHTS

I have recently completed my B.D.S. from D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pimpri, Pune. During my undergraduate course, I’ve seen the value of having an education in Public Health from several different perspectives. First, interacting with patients one-on-one and participating in camps and outreach activities has helped me understand the impact of social and economic disparities on people’s health and access to quality healthcare.

Next, learning about Public Health academically has helped me gain an understanding of how research studies are designed and data is analysed to enhance understanding of not just disease and treatment, but to inform community-based interventions and allocation of resources. Lastly, the desire to understand healthcare through a multidisciplinary perspective has made me want to explore the field of Public Health further.

Highest Education: Bachelor of Dental Surgery - Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pune.

Date of Joining: May 13, 2020

Testimonial:

There is a tremendous need and opportunity for public health professionals in India and several young professionals are interested in going into the field, yet few formal opportunities exist for them to gain experience and avail career guidance in it before taking a decision. FHTS, under the visionary guidance of Dr. Joshi and his team is one of the few such avenues where young public health enthusiasts from varied backgrounds can gain insight into the field in a structured program, without much stringent prior requirements, other than the enthusiasm to learn and participate. Moreover, the fact that it is a virtual program makes it even more accessible to people from all sections of society.

Having done an internship with FHTS, I wanted to remain involved and connected with the organisation, so when I heard of the V-INSPIRE Fellowship, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so. The program is well organised, and there is a culture of freely discussing one’s ideas and feedback. A sentiment of teamwork, collaboration and cooperation permeates the group of fellows, and has been a highlight of the experience so far. Another aspect of this fellowship I greatly appreciate is the practice of continuously re-evaluating and iterating one's way of operation based on new information, which has shown me the importance of being nimble and flexible in one's practices.

I have always believed in the cause of making high-quality information freely accessible to the public, and getting a chance to do that as part of the webinar cluster has been gratifying. In addition to the opportunity to develop my operational and organisational skills, the program has provided me ample opportunities to further my knowledge in various domains of public health, thus enabling me to develop my professional interests and make a more informed decision about the direction of my future career.