“Through this project, I expect to grow as an educator, researcher, dancer, and future physician. I am aiming for both personal and community-based results. I will become an expert in the Indigenous history of my home city by creating materials for others to do the same. I hope to gain valuable practical experience by shadowing medical professionals at IHB after establishing a volunteer presence. I will learn from youth in my community as we dance, opening ourselves up to self-expression and supporting one another.”
Hema Patel (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe/Gujarati-American) — Prospective Pre-Med Post-Bacc Student
Project Title: Bridging Cultural Healing and Medicine Through Service & Storytelling
Project Focus:
Hema’s year with We Are Healers combined community service, cultural education, and healthcare engagement across the U.S. and India. She integrated Indigenous art, diabetes education, and youth empowerment into her journey toward medicine.
Key Activities:
Volunteered at the Indian Health Board (IHB) in Minneapolis supporting diabetes prevention initiatives.
Created bilingual educational materials, assisted with patient care, and organized cultural events.
Led a youth art therapy program and a beadwork workshop for Indigenous students at Tufts.
Partnered with Ojibwe Elder Richard Wright to honor traditional healing practices.
Researched urban Native health history and developed an IHB employee orientation curriculum.
Received support from We Are Healers for educational costs and EMT certification.