Ria Vaishnavi, a proud Bostonian at the University of Michigan, is a first-generation Kashmiri American looking to pursue a career in healthcare and is passionate about amplifying the voices of minority communities. 

Fascinated by the overlap between medicine and cooking - how various ingredients are used in the creation of a single dish, and specialists collaborating to care for their patients - Ria is eager to continue to pursue her academic career and love for cooking. 

By sharing her culture through food, Ria is able to communicate the tales of her community and share how connecting with other Kashmiris brought Ria closer to her heritage. Though many traditional Indian recipes require an in-depth understanding of the masalas, Ria finds that, within Indian cooking, the true beauty is found within simple and humble dishes since they provide the opportunity to bond intergenerationally.