Name: Puja Kulkarni
Year: 4th
Major: Biological Sciences
Position: Lead Coordinator
Biography: This is my second year being a part of the DIM coordinator team, and I am so excited to continue and share my passion for diversity in medicine! I am from Fremont, CA, and I hope to pursue a career as a physician while taking with me the lessons I have learned from this class about social issues into the medical field. At the moment, I am a volunteer at my local health clinic and am volunteering with Meals on Wheels. Apart from school, I love playing tennis, jamming out to Taylor Swift, and spending time with family and friends.
What Diversity Means to Me: Diversity to me means that everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, ethnicity, and background, is represented, included, and heard in a system. When people see themselves represented, they feel understood and empowered. Regarding healthcare in particular, diversity is important in order to increase the quality of care and to ensure that patients’ needs are being understood and met despite being from different backgrounds. Healthcare workers should not only be knowledgeable on the differences in their patients, but should be understanding of these differences and reflect the diverse patient population themselves.
What I Gained From the Class: The PH 91 course has opened my eyes to different disparities in medicine, altering the way I view social inequalities in healthcare completely. The topics covered by guest speakers are wide and varied, bringing attention to all the work that is still to be done to better the health system. The speakers, from all different parts of the medical field, are all enthusiastic about bridging gaps, are well-versed in their respective areas, and share experiences that highlight disparities.