Ritika Jha plans to work at the intersection where science and cultural and societal influences meet to improve women’s well-being. To that end, the recent University of Virginia graduate will pursue a master’s degree in public health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine as a Rotary Global Scholar, a step toward her goal of becoming a doctor.
The Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholarships fund graduate-level studies abroad related to one or more of Rotary’s seven areas of focus, one of which is maternal and child health.
Jha, a South Riding resident who graduated Saturday with a double major in chemistry and religious studies, plans to blend perspectives from both disciplines as a physician.
“Chemistry has given me an objective and quantitative way of understanding the world, but most people don’t utilize chemistry to navigate everyday experiences,” Jha said. “Religion works to bridge this gap, as patients and their families typically rely on more culturally embedded methods of engaging with their environment, like faith and tradition.”
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Jha said studying religion gives her a strong sociological and anthropological background, and she wants to study how this affects healthcare settings.
“I hope to gain a full understanding of my patients as a physician,” Jha said. “I see public health as the intersection of these two subjects, where scientific evidence can be applied to cultural frameworks and lived experiences to create significant, positive change.”
Jha wants to pursue what she sees as the root issues of women’s health.
“From interacting with women in my communities, I see how culture and societal influences affect a woman’s well-being,” Jha said. “I’ve seen how many mothers prioritize their health only while pregnant for the sake of the baby, but neglect their physical and mental health before and after to care for their child, often doing more harm than good.”
Jha sees cultural norms for women’s care going beyond the medical environment and a need to address their education, physical health and stress.
“These interconnected factors require solutions for women rooted in both scientific and social understandings, and I believe public health is the field best equipped to enact this change,” Jha said. “The Rotary Grant will help me develop into a culturally competent provider not only by acknowledging the interdisciplinary challenges that stratify healthcare, but also by equipping me to lead community-based initiatives that help women.”
