Editor’s note: Isha Vedantam is a graduate student in the School of Public Health at Boston University and a summer research intern at the Mass General Research Institute. Please join us in welcoming her to the MGRI team!

I was born in New Delhi, India and completed most of my education there until college. Being an English major taught me a lot of new things while nurturing and challenging my creative side. It was around my 3^rd semester when my life took an unexpected turn. 

I had always been a very healthy person. I rarely fell sick and never had to take any medications. But when I turned 19, I was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus. 

SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune cells start attacking healthy cells instead of harmful ones, leading to the body fighting against itself. This results in a systemic inflammatory response causing joint pain, rashes, fatigue and low-grade fever.

Lupus is currently incurable, but it can be managed quite well given access to good quality health care services, the care of an experienced (and affordable) rheumatologist and access to pharmacies.

In addition, my doctor always reminded me to be aware of my environment (avoiding places with mold, dust, dirt, insects) and consume freshly cooked food and vegetables to support my immune system.

In India, autoimmune diseases are unheard of and relatively rare, so I always had a lot of explaining to do when someone asked me about it. Once, a person thought that lupus was the name of my dog. And I didn’t even have one!

I was barely getting accustomed to the frequent lab trips, needles, doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies when I was hit with another diagnosis.

Because lupus can cause organ inflammation, my kidneys were the next target. I was told I had class four lupus nephritis—one of the more serious complications of lupus where the immune system starts attacking the kidneys at the site where they filter waste products out of the blood. 

All of this happened while I completed my bachelor’s degree, but with the support of my friends and family, I graduated with a very good GPA!

During this time, my family and I realized there were very few resources to help me navigate this new life or mourn the one I lost.

All I knew was that I wanted to support others experiencing similar life changing events using my own experience and education, which is why decided to pursue a master’s degree in public health.

I wanted to help people through health challenges in their lives they may not be prepared for—just like I wasn’t ready for mine. 

I began my public health journey as a media intern at the National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research in India, followed by an internship with the Nutrition Department at World Vision, New Delhi. Step by step, destiny drove me halfway across the world to the beautiful city of Boston. 

I just finished my third semester at Boston University School of Public Health with a certification in Health Communication and Promotion. So far, I am thrilled to be part of the public health community.

My sense of appreciation about public health also inspired me to create an Instagram account (@the_purplebutterfly_) to share my experiences with lupus and help create a sense of community.  One of my happiest moments was when the Lupus Foundation of America shared my story on their website. 

Some of the other activities I consider stress relieving include playing the guitar, reading mystery novels and baking.

Other than that, I have probably binged through all true crime TV shows on Netflix. Some of my top favorites include Mindhunter, Unsolved Mysteries, Behind Her Eyes and Broadchurch.

I am so grateful to be interning with the communications team at Mass General Research Institute as part of my summer practicum. I eagerly look forward to making the best out of my time here!

About the Mass General Research Institute
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital is interwoven through more than 30 different departments, centers and institutes. Our research includes fundamental, lab-based science; clinical trials to test new drugs, devices and diagnostic tools; and community and population-based research to improve health outcomes across populations and eliminate disparities in care.
Support our Research