Every summer I would visit my grandparents and the non-profit hospital they ran in the mountainous region of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. I vividly remember walking around the Gynecology, Physiotherapy, and Ayurveda departments, asking my parents what each department did and if I could look inside. Witnessing women of color navigating roadblocks within the American healthcare system hits close to home, as an Indian-American woman and child of immigrants. Due to a lack of culturally incompetent care and a history of exclusion, the untrustworthiness of the American healthcare system and stigma around mental health care are common experiences that I have been made aware of in my own family and community in Los Angeles. Visiting hospitals in India and growing up within the American healthcare system has given me a deeper understanding of how healthcare inequities are a global issue. These early observations and evolving outlooks sparked my interest and passion for improving access to health services, especially for underserved populations.
My name is Diya Verma and I am a senior studying Global and Community Health and Politics at UCSC. I am passionate about becoming a physician and implementing culturally sensitive interventions that improve health outcomes for underserved communities in California. My short-term goals include earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) and then attending an osteopathic medical school. In the long term, I hope to practice holistic medicine and engage in a community of public health professionals who also advocate for preventive care. I am most interested in pursuing psychiatry and gynecology. My most important personal assets include prioritizing cultural competence in public service, leadership and collaboration skills, as well as my knowledge in interdisciplinary fields within health, to better understand local and global health circumstances and human behavior.
As a co-president of UCSC’s MEDLIFE chapter, I led and volunteered in medical service trips to rural communities in Peru and Ecuador, with plans to expand our efforts to Costa Rica. Working alongside local healthcare professionals and community leaders, I provided medical care, witnessed the care continuum model, and was exposed to the necessity of cultural humility and cultural awareness by learning about Indigenous Andes customs in resource-limited environments. I have a strong inclination in learning languages such as Spanish, French, and Hindi. Working in Latin American countries has allowed me to practice my Spanish and communicate with beautifully diverse communities that continue to inspire me. The public health officials and physicians who mentored me were also greatly influential in my journey of study and commitment to public service.
My interest in the UCSC Climate Coalition has shaped my curiosity about collaboration and teamwork in environmental health science. This interdisciplinary alliance of students and faculty opened my eyes to how imperative climate education and student incentives are to making a difference on UC campuses. This experience allowed me to explore health injustice in a cross-functional setting, emphasizing how fighting climate change is a crucial part of fighting for health equity, especially for women and other underserved minorities. I am thrilled about the chance to further study epidemiology as a Master’s student and combat the spread of disease exacerbated by the climate crisis.
My journey as a Bharatanatyam dancer and dance team captain has profoundly shaped my understanding of collaboration and interconnectedness of mind and body–essential principles that resonate in patient care. Bharatanatyam is not just an art form, but is also a meditative and holistic practice that emphasizes spiritual grounding, emotional expression and physical movement. As team captain, I learned to lead with empathy and prioritized communication to ensure each team member felt heard and valued. My role was to navigate diverse perspectives, integrating them into pieces that reflected cultural and social issues, strengthening our shared purpose. This role taught me how fostering trust and collaboration are essential in teamwork, and are equally vital skills in building patient-provider relationships.
My upbringing and various experiences as a student have profoundly shaped my desire to study Global and Community Health at UCSC and pursue higher education as a future Master’s and medical student. By combining my interdisciplinary education, cultural awareness, and passion for public service, I aim to advocate for holistic, patient-centered care.