Hi! I’m Hetal, your host and storyteller!
I’m truly honored and grateful that you are here. My name is Hetal and I’ve been on quite a journey that has led me to re-launching a passion project of mine - this podcast.
The Global Health Pursuit was first launched in May of 2020 during the rise of the COVID 19 pandemic. Like many, I was restless and was going through yet another existential crisis (this happens often in my world, lol). So naturally, I searched for ways to fill my need for connection, while also creating a ripple effect of good in the world.
Learning about the world was something that always left me in wonder and awe. It was exciting, exhilarating even. I cherished moments where I could walk the streets in a different country, immerse myself in various cultures, and try a multitude of cuisines (I LOVE food).
This wasn’t enough though. As the daughter of immigrants from India, I knew there were deep rooted challenges that people around the world faced. For my parents, it was choosing to uproot their lives in India to build a solid educational foundation for their children in the US.
For others, it may be the lack of clean water, or healthcare access. Whatever the reason is, I believe our job is to continue learning how we can do better as a collective. Why should we wait for a billionaire to make a large donation, when we can band together as a grassroots movement? We have the power.
As an engineer, I have been trained to seek answers to difficult questions. I have been trained to ask questions that bring about innovation and new ideas. This podcast is how I choose to search for answers to the world’s greatest Global Health challenges.
Every week, I interview changemakers who have dedicated their lives to improving the world. I ask every question from a beginner’s mindset so, trust me, you won’t need a doctorate in public health to glean value.
I dedicate this to every person who has ever created light in another individual’s world. Thank you for being here.
MY JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
1991: I was born in Queens, NY to South Asian (Gujarati) Immigrant parents
1996: Started playing tennis (I fell in love with the sport)
2004: Joined the varsity tennis team as an 8th grader
2005-2009: Tappan Zee High School (highlights were playing tennis, excelled in math and science, disliked english and history, broke out of shyness)
2009-2013: College at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (decided to study biomedical engineering because I subconsciously knew medical school wasn't my path, heartbreak, struggled with grades, feeling lost, made it out alive)
2014: First engineering job as an "Adult" at MTF
2015: Grad school at Columbia University (Major Imposter Syndrome, first service trip to India, saw poverty for the first time)
2017-2018: Got into the R&D Leadership Program at J&J (Moved to Indiana, got my first puppy, away from family)
2018-2019: Moved to West Chester, PA J&J site (graduated leadership program, depression, anxiety, feeling utterly lost, service trip to honduras)
2019-2020: Full time role in Trauma Division (continued depression, start of the pandemic)
2020: Launched the Global Health Pursuit Podcast for the first time (fell in love with learning about the world), Started a new role as a Clinical Sales Rep
2021: Burned out by the end of the year (Quit the podcast, Quit my job with no plan)
2022: Recovery, spiritual growth and learning, travel, rest
2023: Transformation, expansion. Living my life with intention and purpose. The Re-Launch of this Podcast.