I started out as an anthropologist in India because I was fascinated by people - their stories, traditions, and ancestry. My journey has taken me from tribal villages to nomadic landscapes and into advanced laboratories unlocking the human past, teaching me how profoundly culture, environment, and policy shape health outcomes.

Working with pastoral nomads in Leh-Ladakh, I saw how climate change silently erodes livelihoods and health security. Later, at BITS Pilani, I explored the psychosocial dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic, studying how tools of resilience and positive thinking shaped people’s well-being in times of crisis. These experiences deepened my belief that health is never just a medical issue and it is inseparable from social context.

As my path expanded into the policy realm, I realized how important it is to design policies that are culturally attuned and grounded in lived realities. Leading a project on generic medicines in Karnataka, I worked closely with doctors, entrepreneurs, and communities to assess the impact of India’s largest affordable medicines program. This work made clear to me the systemic barriers that limit healthcare access, and the urgent need for policies informed by both evidence and anthropology.

Today, as an emerging global health advocate, I am pursuing a Master’s in Global Health at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where I am deepening my understanding of health systems, global health law, and diplomacy. Alongside this, I am expanding my perspective at the Graduate Institute, Switzerland, focusing on environmental economics and food sustainability. Whether in classrooms, conferences, or advocacy platforms, my focus remains on advancing equity in health by addressing the social, cultural, and structural determinants that shape people’s lives.