SPOTLIGHT
eNews edition
shines
SPOTLIGHT
on an individual (or a team) who has (have) a positive and significant impact on the lives of New England residents.
IAGB
:
Describe your Journey into the field of Auyrveda.
Pratibha Shah:
Growing up in India as the youngest sibling with four brothers I aspired to become an Architect while my father kept trying to convince me to be a doctor or teacher. With very good grades in high school, I was supremely confident about my seat at the Regional Engineering College. But destiny had its own plans. Due to a series of events and some impulsive acts on my end, I ended up missing my interview as I was out of town. Despite all efforts I could not find another college with Architecture option. Medical college admissions were closed as well. With no other choice but to do a gap year, my father suggested why not try the local Ayurvedic college. I went with zero interest and minimum curiosity as I had not heard of Ayurveda until then. But I was soon intrigued and pulled in into the vast field of this traditional and whole system health science, thanks to amazing faculty in my first year. Goes without saying I had no intention to leave at the end of the first year. I completed my five and half year program between Bangalore and Mumbai, and Ayurveda has become my life passion since.
IAGB
:
How has your career path traversed from Ayurveda graduate in Mumbai to here in Boston?
Pratibha Shah:
I always had a seeker in me as I always wanted to be informed and educated caregiver. I used the resources at British Council library in Bangalore and later in Mumbai to read up on the modern medicine such as Grey’s Anatomy, Guyton’s Physiology, Nelson’s pediatrics to name a few. Additionally, our curriculum included dissection on cadavers. I graduated with Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS). Soon after graduation I joined as a resident at one of the top hospitals in Mumbai which had a policy of interviewing and selecting candidates with non MBBS degrees who met their tough standards. As a resident doctor I rotated in all the branches including gynecology, obstetrics, and even surgery rotations. These experiences gave me a good grip on all hospital procedures but wanted to continue with my focus on Ayurveda. I went through a national exam to secure my admission in National Institute of Ayurveda in Jaipur for my Masters in Ayurveda Medicine (MD) specializing in
Rasa Shastra
which is nano medicice or more commonly known as
bhasma medicine.
While doing my Masters I appeared for the highly competitive all India UPSC exam, and was pleasantly surprised to be one of the only 12 selected from all over India for this First Class Gazetted Officer post. I was ranked 5
th
all over India and was the only one selected from the State of Rajasthan. My appointment letter came directly from the President of India. I was with the Directorate of Indian medicine (presently renamed as AYUSH Ministry which is an acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, & Homeopathy) for 13 years, starting as Medical officer and rising to be a Chief Medical Officer. I was on track to become the National Advisor when destiny intervened again and brought me to USA, following my husband’s job here.
After moving to United States I did my Masters in Public health from Boston University. I joined an integrative medicine clinic after graduation. Presently I work as an independent consultant and am also associated with a large integrative practice in Peabody – Well Life Medical. There are other holistic practitioners like me such as Acupuncturists, massage therapists etc. We see clients individually and also convene as a team for more challenging cases and/or as needed. Aside of Peabody, I see clients in a variety of different set ups and do home visits for veterans, seniors and disabled, if needed. Last year I registered my company – My Ayurved, LLC. and have also been writing a Facebook blog by the same name.
One of my missions is to change the definition of success from amassing money to health and happiness. I want to role model that part. I have consciously avoided the path of commercialization of my knowledge in Ayurveda and holistic medicine in general. I am senior faculty for Kerala Ayurveda Academy which is headquartered in California, for about ten years and am also their domain expert. I also teach at Mass College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences when invited and I have been approached to do clinical rotations for their students.
IAGB
:
What should our readers know about Ayurveda?
Pratibha Shah:
Ayurvedic approach is best explained by a Sanskrit shloka
Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanam Aaturasya Vikara Prashamanam Cha
Which translates into “Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam” – To prolong life and promote perfect health (add years to life and life to years); Aturasya vikara prashamanam cha – To completely eradicate the disease and dysfunction of the body.
Ayurveda is one of the most powerful and sophisticated mind-body health systems in the world. Dating back almost 5000 years, this whole life science continues to provide contemporary effective health and wellness guidelines even today. Ayurveda does not merely focus on illness. It provides comprehensive guidelines to help people stay vibrant and healthy while realizing their full human potential.
If I were to describe Ayurveda in an elevator pitch, I would mention 3 Ps – Promotion (of Health), Prevention (of Illness), Personalization (of health and wellness plans).
Even though Ayurveda is not licensed here in US, there are few champions who are trying hard to bring Ayurveda into main stream and I would like to consider myself a small part of that process.
IAGB
:
What should clients be aware of if they are considering Ayurveda as recourse to their ailments.
Pratibha Shah:
Ayurveda can be described as an art of daily living that has evolved from deep philosophical, spiritual and practical insights which have been perfected over centuries of practice and wisdom. Ayurveda places great emphasis on prevention and encourages the maintenance of health through diet and lifestyle, proper cooking methods, yoga and meditation practices, proper exercise, herbal nutrition as well as cleansing and rejuvenating Ayurvedic therapies. For illness, Ayurveda provides excellent solutions with customized and personalized herb, diet and lifestyle plans and specialized bodywork therapies.
IAGB
:
Who is your Role Model?
Pratibha Shah:
I do not have any one role model. I genuinely feel each person is capable of teaching us something. I love to connect with the positive in every person. So each and every person I have met in my life has been a guru to me in that sense. And of course we can learn a lot from introspection and meditation. There is after all a guru in all of us as well.
IAGB
:
What is your favorite pass time and how do you chill out?
Pratibha Shah:
What drives me is my passion - contributing to the health and well-being of my community. My down time is mostly watching something educational or entertaining. I love to watch anything that makes me laugh. I chill in solitude as well as in the company of good friends and music.
IAGB
:
What is the legacy you wish to leave behind?
Pratibha Shah:
My nonprofits are my legacy. I would like to see them grow and anchored. I am already expanding them slowly. I would love to increase awareness about them and would love more people to join in the effort. I would like to see a healthier and wholesome community. We are living in a world of excesses - overdose of information, interaction, socializing, etc. In Ayurveda we say '
Ati Sarvatra Varjayet
' - meaning anything in excess is harmful. I would like to see the work undertaken by the nonprofits I have started expanded. The Wholistic Health Alliance is already a national organization with other state chapters. I would like to see more of the youth involved. We have started a youth brigade and would like to expand it to schools. I would like to invite members of the IAGB community to check out these two non-profits, especially Wholistic Health Alliance and join us in this effort. Together we can change the health of our community and loved ones.
Pratibha Shah, BAMS, Doctor of Ayurveda, MPH, is one of the leading, most sought after Ayurveda experts in the New England area. She is an educator, a prolific speaker and a passionate ambassador of Ayurveda. Her pioneering initiatives in the field of Ayurveda have brought her to attention at the White House, the Department HHS, as well as the Indian Consulate
IAGB interviewing team:
Sanjay Kudrimoti
