As I sit on the bus on my way to London Heathrow Airport, shivering with excitement and no small amount of nervousness, I cannot help but reflect on what a serendipitous journey this has been - from the flats of Cambridge to the hills of Dehradun.
I first heard of the Cambridge Global Health Partnership (CGHP) when one of my supervisors suggested that I read about their work. At the time, I was a junior trainee, still trying to find my footing in a new country after moving alone from India. While the work piqued my interest, I did not explore it further then.
Fast forward four years. Feeling (relatively) more settled and confident in my role, I had begun to think more intentionally about ways of giving back to the country and the people who had shaped my childhood and youth. Midway through my GP training, I had also discovered a deep and enduring passion for palliative care and a desire to devote a significant part of my career to this field. It was during this phase of my life that I once again came across CGHP and their work with the Rama Foundation in India.
It felt like a perfect alignment. I was seeking opportunities to give back to India while learning more about palliative care across different healthcare systems - and here was a role that seemed to offer exactly that. As a deeply spiritual person, I truly believe that the Rama Foundation and I were, in many ways, led to each other.
The partnership between the Rama Foundation, the Himalayan Hospital, and Ganga Prem Hospice in northern India spans many years. I was joining a well-established project that had already achieved phenomenal success in terms of relationship-building, exchange of ideas, and truly bilateral learning. The team who visited in August had done remarkable work, donated large quantities of medical supplies, and had also been extremely successful with fundraising efforts. As I took on the baton from this incredible team, I felt both humbled and deeply inspired by their experiences and insights.
As the first doctor to be part of this project, I am acutely aware of the challenges and responsibilities that lie ahead. Through our work with the Rama Foundation, the focus has been on enhancing the role of allied health professionals - including dietitians, speech and language therapists, and physiotherapists - within palliative care. We recognise the vital role these professionals play within the UK system, and it has been heartening to work alongside a senior doctor in India who similarly recognises the importance of this multidisciplinary approach.
Many allied health professionals have travelled to India as part of previous visits, and while I am aware that the expectations and dynamics may differ slightly for me as a doctor, I feel incredibly supported. I am fortunate to be accompanied by a highly experienced occupational therapist, Julie Burkin, and to have the ongoing support of my supervisor, Dr Anna Spathis and mentors, Munish and Artika Datta, who will be checking in with us remotely throughout the placement.
Prior to my visit, I was grateful for the opportunity to virtually connect with some of the key individuals at the Himalayan Hospital. Once again, I was struck by their humility, warmth, and genuine willingness to collaborate. While this project has already come a long way, I am confident that it has so much more to offer - to teams in both Cambridge and India. I very much look forward to carrying this work forward into 2026 and beyond.
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