Alumni Spotlight - Interview with Divya Mallampati
by Ankur Asthana on August 16, 2009
Divya Mallampati is recent alum of GlobeMed and graduate of Northwestern University with a bachelor's degree in Anthropology. During her time at Northwestern, Divya served at both the chapter level and at the national office in Evanston. Under her direction, she oversaw the creation of 'globalhealthU,' GlobeMed's comprehensive global health curriculum for students, and helped expand GlobeMed's annual global health Summit from 40 participants in 2007 to over 150 participants in 2009. Divya was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for research in India. Starting in August, Divya will begin her work on the integration of family planning and HIV prevention programs for women.
As she prepared for her trip to India, we were fortunate enough to be able to sit down with her and chat about her experiences and her plans for the future.
Q: How did you become involved in GlobeMed?
A: I first got involved with the Northwestern chapter after my freshman year roommate told me about the organization. I had never really been involved in anything pertaining to global health and it sounded interesting so I tagged along with her to a few meetings. Back in the day (even though it was only four years ago…), GlobeMed was definitely a different organization but it appealed to me. I quickly became involved, interested in the work we were doing, and eager to learn more about global health. After serving briefly as a chapter leader during my sophomore year, I was given the opportunity to join the national office. Since then, GlobeMed has transformed from a mere extracurricular activity to a passion.
Q: What is it that makes you so committed to global health and/or social justice?
A: I think what makes me committed to global health and social justice is the idea that despite the massive inequity we see in our world, we have the potential to imagine that things can be different. All we need is the will to make it happen.
I’m motivated by the fact that global health and social justice are about complexity – it’s about addressing a variety of factors that influence the health of others such as their access to basic resources, education, or economic opportunities. This movement will require listening to a multitude of voices and collaborating with many. Yet underneath that complexity I believe there’s the simple truth that health is a human right. It’s unacceptable that atrocities plague those with the least ability to fight back. When do we start feeling the impetus address these issues? For me, it’s hard to turn a blind eye when so much of this suffering can be averted by concerted, careful, and purposive efforts.
Q: You've said before that you've always found it interesting how "small changes or changes in direction" can have a very important impact on the way things turn out. Can you elaborate how that plays a role in your personal decisions and the actions you take?
A: That philosophy has been important to me because it enables me to envision and achieve a large goal by taking active, purposive steps while remaining pragmatic and optimistic. This idea really guides the way that I work, achieve my goals, and even treat other people. It can be daunting to think about big issues such as something related to global health (poverty, development, inequality, etc) or something personal (applying to medical school, finishing a thesis, organizing a summit). These ideas can be perceived as tasks or as too burdensome because they are a lot to take on. As a result, we might not put our hearts into what we want to do, we become complacent, or we give up.
I believe, though, that approaching these huge issues is about a mindset. It’s about knowing the larger vision and believing that every small step or change is independently and inherently important. I think only then it is possible to realize that anything we do truly can and does have an impact-more than we realize it might.
This realization came to me in a place I never thought it would. While shadowing in one of the best private hospitals in the country, I stood in a room inside the hospital’s free clinic. Down the street from us was one of the best neighborhoods in the country and stores like Burberry and Oscar de la Renta lined the streets. Far from the rural clinics of Mexico or the delivery of wards of India, I watched a doctor tell a young woman that her toddler was not able to speak and that his mental growth was delayed because she had apparently failed to nourish him properly. The woman tried to explain her situation to us – she had no husband or other familial support, she was working several jobs, and now had to care for a new infant daughter. The issue at that moment for me was not simply about nutrition. It was that this woman was telling us a deeper story about her life- a story about the barriers that prevented her from creating the best life for herself and her family. It was that day, that moment, where I realized that this movement for global health equity isn’t fought by setting lofty targets or thinking about the massive problems we face. It’s about listening to this one mother, it’s about addressing this one situation, it’s about being cognizant of the vast spectrum of inequity in our world and working tirelessly to ensure that no one, regardless of their location or background, should have to suffer unjustly and unnecessarily. That shift in thought was really powerful for me. It brought a renewed mindset to the work that I do in school, in GlobeMed, and in just about everything that I take on.
Q: Tell us about the work you will be doing as part of your Fulbright.
A: I will be working with a non-governmental organization, the Freedom Foundation, in Hyderabad, a city in southern India. I will be researching fertility and reproductive health intentions among HIV-positive women and, as a result, how family planning or contraceptive services are integrated with HIV care and counseling. The idea is that in a society where traditional familial values are still prevalent, the challenges of coping and living with HIV can uniquely disadvantage women, a highly vulnerable population in India. Being infected with the virus can change a woman’s wishes for bearing children and it can alter the dynamic with her husband, her existing children, or other family members. I’ll be working with the organization for about nine months but I will hopefully also be connecting with other great NGOs/programs in India as well as traveling and learning more about the country!
Q: How do you think GlobeMed has prepared you for this work?
A: Oh dear…is there enough room to answer this question? I’ve been fortunate over the past four years to have many great opportunities. Taking anthropology and global health classes, studying public health in Mexico, and performing thesis research in a public hospital in India have all enabled me to learn a tremendous amount and develop my own unique perspective. GlobeMed, though, has taught me to think critically and it’s given me an ethic that I infuse into everything I do- even into the experiences listed above.
GlobeMed has obviously taught me a great deal about global health but, as I work on my Fulbright and think about my future, I really do believe that the lessons I’ve learned will help guide my approach to a multitude of issues. My years with GlobeMed have been about continuous growth. Whether it’s been finding articles for globalhealthU or engaging in a debate with the national office about our chapters’ campaign strategies, I’ve been able to channel my passion into discussing with my peers, hearing various perspectives, and having my world view constantly challenged. There’s something powerful about building a movement for global health equity with your fellow students and communities around the world. I was able to realize the value of working in solidarity with others and not only for them. I was able to act with purpose and not only with compassion. I was able to think critically and question issues of health and social justice not only learn about them. All are concepts that I am able to apply in the next year and beyond.
Q: What are your ambitions after completing your Fulbright? Do you plan to continue working in global health (and if so...how do your parents feel about that)?
A: I absolutely want to work in global health but I do not know yet in what capacity I want to be involved. The field is opening up in a very exciting way. There are and I believe will be many more ways to work to provide quality and accessible health care to the poor. At this point, I’m committed to working towards that goal and am looking forward to exploring the options in the next few years.
After the Fulbright, I will be attending medical school and concurrently pursuing an MPH or perhaps a PhD in anthropology. My parents have always been and continue to be very supportive. Coming from a different cultural background, it definitely was – and sometimes still is - difficult for them to understand how exactly I’m going to balance a career in medicine with my interest in global health, family, and other concerns but I think after seeing my dedication to this work (and hearing me talk about it endlessly!), it has made them think far more openly about the field.
Q: As one of the few resident Texans we had in GlobeMed, it was always great to have your perspective. What would you say is the best part about being from Texas?
A: The best part about being from Texas is DEFINITELY our sense of pride. We have this attitude that there’s something uniquely fantastic about being Texans. Apparently we just do everything bigger, better, and with our own unique flair. Despite being infinitely teased for this, I’ve got admit that I love playing up my Texas pride!
Besides ya’ll, what other state can say with self-assurance and sass that we can secede from the union? Just kidding!
Q: Will you come back to next year's Summit and visit?
A: Of course! I can’t wait to see what all the chapters will do over the next year and how our network will grow and strengthen. The energy of all the students makes the Summit so electric and inspiring. I am going to try my hardest to take any plane, train, automobile, or rickshaw to get back!
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