General Information

Name	Chethana
Last Name	Thondebhavi Shantha Kumar
Nickname	Chethana

Background

Organization	University of Arizona
Professional Title	Grad Student
Bio and Background	I am Chethana Thondebhavi Shantha Kumar, from a small town Gauribidanur which is an hour away from Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. I did my bachelor’s in Bengaluru, the IT hub of India and currently persuing a Master’s in data science at the University of Arizona.
How I use the Force for Health Network Tools	I am currently trying to understand all the tools offered by Force for Health, I am very much hooked on the virtual gym which helps me track my progress in the gym.
My inspiration	My dad inspires me both in terms of personality and his healthy lifestyle. Because I grew up watching and learning from his ethics and lifestyle.
Location	Bengaluru, India
What would you like people to know about your community?	Bengaluru is a beautiful place with people from different regions, cultures, and lifestyles. It is popular for its nightlife and the number of startups.

My Citizenship Health Factors

Some of the factors that have been challenging for me have been...	Moving into a different country and adapting to it.
It's important for me to be part of my community's health because...	It is important for me to be involved in the health of my community because, from my experience working in health-related companies I believe most of them in my community do not have healthy eating habits and physical inactivity which is affecting most of them in different ways.
Some of the strength of my community health factors are:	Some strengths of my community include access to clean and healthy food, easy and quick access to general medications, and also paramedics.
Some of the challenges in my community regarding certain health factors are:	Most of them in my community do not understand the importance of physical activity, yoga, or staying fit in general, which makes most of them suffer from obesity, heart problems, etc,.
I believe I can help improve my community's health by...	Spreading awareness about staying fit, eating healthy, and changing into a better and healthier lifestyle.

Advancing the DREAM

Advancing the DREAM - What it means to me

Advancing the DREAM in healthcare means working towards a system where everyone, regardless of race or background, has equal access to quality care. To me, it involves actively addressing health disparities affecting African Americans and other minorities through education, advocacy, and community engagement. By raising awareness, supporting policies for equitable healthcare, and promoting diversity in medical professions, we can all contribute to realizing Dr. King’s vision of healthcare equality for all.

My Action Pledge to Advance the DREAM?

My Action Pledge to Advance the Dream in 2024:I pledge to educate myself and others about health disparities affecting minority communities. I will actively seek out and share reliable information on these issues through social media and community discussions. By raising awareness and promoting understanding, I aim to inspire more people to take action towards achieving healthcare equality. This commitment to ongoing education and advocacy is my contribution to advancing Dr. King’s dream of equitable healthcare for all.

Chethana