This shortage is especially relevant to patients with CKD because the symptoms of this condition are usually not observable until irreversible kidney damage has already happened. In India, around half of CKD patients first see a physician when they already have end stage renal disease (ESRD), which is the final stage of CKD when the patient is dependent on dialysis or a kidney transplant. This makes India an ideal place to design and research devices for at-home diagnosis and monitoring of CKD.
I also chose to come to India to learn more about Indian culture. My grandmother has lived in India her whole life, and when I was in elementary and middle school, I would visit her in India almost every summer. Coming to India for my Fulbright project has enabled me to not only spend more time with my grandmother but also visit parts of India I have never been to before, including hill stations and mangrove forests, and witness pieces of India’s rich culture spanning thousands of years.
When I first came to Chennai, India, I was not fluent in speaking the local language, which is Tamil. Though I was nervous about moving to a new country, this experience has been incredibly rewarding. I have gotten more fluent in Tamil, eaten so many new delicious dishes from all over India, seen new styles of dance and music, walked in beautiful historic temples, churches, and mosques and made new friends. I am excited to continue my journey in India, and I can't wait to share this experience with all of you!
