Why I chose to Intern at Genesis Foundation

As an early undergraduate student, I was quite unsure of my future aspirations, juggling a realm of possibilities ranging from a biomedical engineer to an architect to a weatherman. It was only after I spoke to a physician regarding my interests that I began to consider medicine. And the small sparks of interests and inquisitions were solidified in my experiences through shadowing and extracurricular activities in the healthcare realm where I found that my passions were maintained in healthcare, specifically in medicine.

In the past, I have felt compelled to pursue a degree of advocacy or contribution to cardiovascular studies due to my extensive family history of heart failure, but I was unsure of the medium through which I would accomplish this mission. Nevertheless, once I had chosen my path, I was keen on aiding and dedicating my time towards combating cardiac disease whether it was through advocacy or research. I began in a cardio-oncology research lab which also shared the same mission as me where I found a great mentor and like-minded individuals. Furthermore, my research extended beyond the United States to India where cardiovascular disease is an even larger epidemic being the leading cause of the death within a population of more than 1.4 billion individuals. Through my research, I’ve garnered an academic perspective on cardiovascular disease, however, it has also helped me realize the limitations that certain regions have in basic screening and treatment, making the symptoms and overall risks for cardiac-related morbidities significantly more dire. I realized through these experiences that research is crucial, but advocacy is equally important: rallying for a purpose or cause is needed to make a change and serving as a medium is crucial for those who don’t have those privileges.

I desired to find a way that I could align my interests while advocating for a cause and finally came across Genesis Foundation, a children’s healthcare Foundation. Their mission of providing resources, treatment, and care to underserved families with children who have a congenital heart defect (CHD) reflected both goals of mine: advocacy for those who cannot afford basic healthcare treatments and cardiac-related care. The best NGO in Haryana, their holistic approach to advocacy garnered my attention as they ensure CHD is combated through unique fundraising events, emphasis on education, and most of all, focus on the stories behind the children and families themselves. When I first came across their organization, the stories listed under each child with CHD was compelling and thoroughly reflected their emphasis on the humanity behind the patient rather than simply the treatment. In other words, they emphasize patients as a large family rather than a statistic or mere medium of treatment. This brings in another level of inclusivity and dedication that not only treats their physical ailments but also reaches their heart through a completely different threshold.

Interning with Genesis Foundation has allowed me to pursue advocacy while learning other professional skills

Their emphasis on education further displays their love for the cause and treated families through the efforts they’ve put into their digestible infographics and website design. Their willingness to make CHD articles and resources compiled into engrossing yet concise articles and papers shows that their willingness to mitigate barriers to treatment goes beyond simply the treatment, but making sure that the public is aware and educated of CHD and all of the specific barriers that are at the root of the issue they’re geographical, socioeconomic, or financial.

Genesis Foundation allows me to pursue advocacy while instilling values that are not only applicable on a daily basis but in professional and medical settings as well. In practice, it’s essential that doctors treat the person behind the patient rather than just treating to mitigate. This approach is very effective when offering treatment as the patient will be more receptive to receiving proper treatment and instill more confidence in the patient. Additionally, educating patients on the reasoning behind their treatment all the while making it digestible is efficient and effective in that the patient is aware of what they are going through and shows the physician truly cares about the patient.

In other words, Genesis Foundation’s values, all encompassed under holistic patient care, are reflected through their unconditional support for families facing CHD. I hope to learn and apply these values to not only help me grow as a physician in the future, but also as an individual. as a children’s healthcare Foundation, the scope of experiences that GF provides was another significant element that I appreciated which included meeting children and families struggling with CHD (covering the interpersonal/patient interaction basis), writing varieties of papers (encompassing proficient articulation and digestible material), assisting at events/clinics (covering altruistic and selfless service), and several more potential opportunities. Not only was GF holistic in their approach to advocacy and treating patients, but in their approach to involvement as well.

For me, the shared values and multitude of skill sets that I could acquire through the experiences Genesis Foundation, the best NGO in Haryana had to offer were very important to me, giving me the privilege to partake towards this great cause.