Howdy y’all! I felt like it was time I introduced myself properly on my Instagram page 😁 My name is Nikita and I am a third year PhD student in Health Services Research at Texas A&M University. . . . Prior to pursuing my PhD, I practiced as a physician in India for a while. I felt drawn to public health during my community medicine rotation in the rural area. Hardships experienced by the underserved population opened my eyes about how I wanted to practice medicine. This was the moment I knew that I wanted a career in public health. . . . My passion to understand healthcare beyond clinical knowledge pushed me to get a masters degree in healthcare administration from UNC, Chapel Hill #tarheelforlife Just as I was exploring public health at Chapel Hill, I was fortunate to help a professor with her talk on breast cancer and financial toxicity. This is the exact moment I fell in love with research (cancer research specifically!) and decided to get a PhD in health services research. . . . Currently, I am a third year PhD student at Texas A&M exploring racial,ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in liver cancer treatment. My PhD is in an interdisciplinary area which makes me draw important medical, epidemiological, and econometric constructs to my dissertation. This #instagram page is my journey (happy moments as well as struggles) as an international student and occasional #scicomm Welcome to my Instagram 😊 . . . #photooftheday #saturday #saturdayvibes #introduction #woc #theinternationalphd #grad #gradlife #science #scientist #tamu #phdlife #phdchat #academicchatter #tarheels #aggies #publichealth #cancerresearch #womeninacademia #thisiswhatascientistlookslike #immigrants #womentransformingscience
I usually don’t talk about my health issues. But today I felt like may be I can a little bit. I have been suffering from chronic pain for over 8 years now. I cannot sit beyond 45 mins or on hard surfaces. I need to have my coccyx pillow and lumbar pillow if you expect me to work. There was a time when I would be in pain for 24 hrs and 7 days a week. I was prescribed heavy pain medications which disturbed my stomach’s integrity. I am still taking medication for that. . . . I spent my initial years in the US without all those things. My family was going through an intense financial struggle and I couldn’t ask them for more. Most international students are on a strict budget and on top my family was struggling. But they stabilized and I picked up some financial responsibilities from them. Today I am financially independent but I feel very privileged to have that cushion to fall back on. . . . I recognize my privilege everyday these days when I can afford all the things I can for my health. Not everyone can and that thought disturbs me. My life goal is to fight for the people who do not have access to the care they need which is why my dissertation focuses on inequities in healthcare delivery. I hope I can make change happen in some small way. . . . #phdlife #phdchat #healthinequity #researchlife #chronicillness #painmanagement #pain #wednesdaywisdom #vibes #fighting #theinternationalphd #woc
As promised to lighten up the mood a little bit, I am posting this 30 second casual singing video. It is a song in Hindi (from Bollywood) essentially telling my lover that we will always be together. Also, song choice should tell you I am a 90’s kid 😍 . . . #song #bollywood #singer #casual #video #phdlife #theinternationalphd #singingphd #singaway #hindi #hindisongs
My awesome school of public health and @sphhealthandwellness committee that I work for has organized semester stress relief today. We have coloring station, stress ball making, back massage, dog petting (Picture 2) and teas! We have it open for students, staff and professors because everyone needs stress relief! And did I tell you everything is free?!!! . . . #stressrelief #semester #publichealth #tamu #health #wellness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #theinternationalphd #internationalstudents #phdlife #phdchat #shotoniphone
Brazos valley world fest is an exhibition of all cultures around the world in Bryan, Texas. This henna (or mehendi) was at one of the Desi (as we lovingly call Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi folks) cultural booth! Wearing my culture proudly! How’s your Saturday going? . . . . . #theinternationalphd #culture #desi #indian #india #henna #mehendi #tradition #bodyart #phdlife #womenofcolor #positivevibes #saturday #shotoniphone
How do you travel when you are on a tight budget and always converting how much it costs in your native currency? (P.S. Stop converting currency, ASAP!) 🤣 Pictured here: Me at Cameron Zoo Park, Waco Texas, around trees. Happy! With some fall! Total trip costed $15 with food, zoo, Dr. pepper museum and lunch! . . . Travel is a form of self-care but reality hurts sometimes! Not all of the international students can #travel when they like! Remember: The US is expensive for a lot of us! . . . Pro Tips! 😁 1) There are organizations on campus that take international students for free trips to tourist sensations in your state. Try and find such international student friendly organizations. 2) Additionally, many faith-based organizations help international students with many daily struggles and organize fun trips like mine! 3) Conferences are a great way to squeeze some travel. Other people have different opinions but I don’t have that luxury to take random fun trips due to restricted budget. So, I utilize my conferences as a way to travel most coveted tourist places in the area that I am going to! You can’t have to visit every attraction. But something is better than nothing they say! 4) Pool up with a couple of friends to get those costs down! 5) Put funds aside every month dedicated to just travel. . . . Thoughts? . . . #theinternationalphd #travel #traveltips #sunday #tips #phdlife #phdchat #researchlife #womeninstem #stemme #gradlife #f4f #igdaily #instagram #womeninacademia #internationalstudents #budget
Have you been eyed for your attire, piercings or tattoos or just even the way you look? . . . Prejudice about tattoos is not new. Even though, tattoo has a long and cultural relevance to India, it is still looked down upon even by some in cities like Mumbai! Act of classism, I can comfortably say. I was surprised to see similar reaction in the US. Move over tattoos, general bias about how I look or dress. Once I remember wearing Salwar Kameez in class (one of the traditional attires of India), I was judged from head to toe like never before. . . . My advice? Own your culture, your piercings, your tattoos. I even wore Indian traditional clothes for my masters graduation! . . . . #theinternationalphd #internationalstudents #tattoo #culture #identity #phdchat #phdlife #prejudice #appearance #thursdaymotivation #academicchatter #indian #womenofcolor