Being a doctor was a dream come true moment for me.All in my mind was that I can be a part of helping  in building and strengthening one's most precious thing, that is health. But my medical education was more about how to run in this rat race of entrances and higher education. Not about how to effectively use my knowledge to bridge the gap of health existing in rural and remote areas.Travel fellowship is more of an unlearning and relearning process for me.To learn many things I missed in medical education. Most importantly how to provide patient oriented health care, which was an impractical thing from my learning.To learn from the people who think differently and are making huge impacts in different societies.And to explore some part of this large diverse country.
You can reach me at philrosevj@gmail.com .
"If I cannot be the sun that shines upon the earth , I can still be a lamp and light up my street."

A few years back, me and my friend got an opportunity to be part of a survey team to visit some of the tribal villages in Nilambur, Kerala. We got to visit multiple tribal settlements, including the Cholanaykan tribes, and to meet this teacher who treks 15 km through the forest to meet the tribal students and make sure they don’t miss out on education. She was also the elected ward member, a mother and strong woman. It was a spark!
Last October, I attended a RSP (Rural Sensitization Program) in Sittilingi. It was the first time I came to know about THI (Tribal Health Initiative)—to meet Ji, Tha, and Ubu in person. It was the 3 most influential days in my life. It rekindled the fire back in me. I started to dream again, and here I am bag packing for the amazing journey ahead of me with one expectation to have experience that’ll inspire, motivate, and encourage’ me to take action.
I think that opening myself up to an opportunity like a travel fellowship will help me widen my perspective and enrich me with experience, which could give me the confidence to take action.
Contact me at abhayknelson@gmail.com
"My political view is that of social equity , equal rights to health and education, so I can see my future working in that direction."

I'm Farha, and here's my story.

I believe that 17 is too early to make a life-altering decision like pursuing medicine. Needless to say, I started on the wrong foot with the entire profession. A few months into MBBS, the initial pride of securing the coveted government medical college seat waned, and disappointment set in. I began to wonder if this was all there was to it, and if so, I wasn't sure I wanted it. The hierarchy frightened me. The possibility of turning into many of my professors terrified me. The routine of finishing MBBS, immediately doing PG prep, and letting the rank pick the specialty for me seemed like a colossal mistake.

I attended RSP at a time when I was unsure if I was even made for this career. I heard about Travel Fellowship during the event. Well, that sounded like something I was made for. It seemed like my kind of adventure. Two years fast forward, here I am, all geared up for this journey. Let's dive in and see what happens, shall we?

Contact me at fathimafarhapari@gmail.com

'The world, will be saved and remade by the dreamers.'

   Hi, I’m Dr. Smita More, and I’m passionate about women's health and empowerment. After completing my MBBS and DGO, I’m excited to work in obstetrics and gynecology, not just to provide medical care but to support and uplift women in their journeys. My time as a Medical Officer at SEARCH NGO in Gadchiroli, working with Dr. Rani Bang and Dr. Yogesh Kalkonde, gave me a lot of hands-on experience, especially in rural and underserved communities. It really opened my eyes to the challenges women face in accessing quality healthcare.

Right now, I’m diving into more learning—working on an MBA in Healthcare Management and exploring areas like psychiatry, project management, and public health. I’m all about fairness and inclusivity, and I’m committed to breaking down the barriers that stand in the way of women’s health and rights. I speak English, Marathi, and Hindi, and I’m looking forward to connecting with organizations that care about these issues as much as I do. With a blend of medical skills and a strong belief in advocacy, I’m excited to make a difference!
Contact me at smita.more9197@gmail.com

"The trouble is you think you have time"....the Buddha

Hey, Keerthana here. I grew up in Kerala, and did my MBBS from ESIC Medical College, Chennai. I love Music, Writing, Photography and more of Cooking delicacies for loved ones. I am a mental health advocate and myself on a healing journey.
I happened to attend RSP during my second year, little did I know that 5 years later, the takeaways from the programme would give me the courage to follow my heart rather than sticking to the conventional, monotonous patterns of India's Medico-Culture. Towards my internship, I found myself extremely confused and anxious, constantly worrying about the need to fit in, when I already knew that there's some altered way I could find. I was in search of that until the invites for the 5th batch of Travel fellows reached my Instagram feed.  

The thought of "bringing a change" would always agitate my head. I didn't know how. And now I think if I can't bring a change by myself, I can at least be a part of the ones who're already on the way to that, rather than sitting back and just speaking about it. I want to belong to a place where I'm needed. Also, I came here in search of a home, and I think I've finally found it. To explore and find myself, along with being a part of making the world better for the ones who really own it by all their toils and sweat, along with learning by real and raw experience, about what and how to practice to ensure the real "Health for all". 

Here's a message to my fellow medicos out there, "It's okay if you feel like you don't fit in, it's okay if you want to take a different route than the rest of the herd. Maybe on the way you'll get to find the most heartwarming, enlightening and fascinating memories and experiences that help you find who you're and what all you are capable of!!!"

You can find me at keerthanakrishna@gmail.com if you need to reach out.

Being a straight A golden child, I was like a horse with blinders, unaware of what was happening around me, focused only on reading my textbooks and reproducing the same thing to get top marks. For 18 years I was in my own bubble, following the path which was already paved for me. It was only during my college life at Government Medical College, Calicut, did reality hit me hard. It was only then that I started asking questions as to why things were the way they were and what being a doctor meant to me. What does health really mean? Is it just the absence of a disease, or is it much more? I was utterly baffled and began searching for answers and ways to make a difference, even in the tiniest way.

That's when I came across my seniors who had gone for Travel Fellowship. Their journey and stories inspired me, encouraging me to attend the Rural Sensitisation Program (RSP). RSP Sittilingi, October 2023, was truly life-changing; it was where I found my tribe. I realised many more people had such questions and were working to find the answers. I met wonderful people who proved with their lives that actions are the best words spoken. I was even more excited to apply for a Travel Fellowship. Hence I embarked on this journey. I don't know if all my questions will be answered, but I am all in to learn and unlearn, to experience everything that awaits me.
Contact me if needed -  aneetarose0802@gmail.com