Mansi Totwani

What is the significance of the object you brought with you to the photo shoot?
This painting is called "Aurora through Trees" and I have held onto it since creating it during a Zoom painting event in college. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as my classmates and attended classes from our homes, we searched for ways to remain connected. The other class officers and I used our funding to mail art supplies to our peers and host an online painting class. I vividly remember at the end of our class, vibrant shades of blue filled over 200 boxes on Zoom as my peers held up their renditions of the painting in unison. This piece of art reminds me of the strength and beauty of human connection, especially during isolating times. I hope to always hold on to that sense of connection felt back then, and find ways to cultivate it in the various communities I have been lucky to find at HMS.

What inspires or motivates you in your role at HMS/HSDM?
I grew up on a beautiful island in the Caribbean called St. Thomas. Located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, our island's population is served by one small hospital and patients often must leave the island for complex medical procedures. As a medical student at HMS, I feel motivated to bridge the gap in healthcare access and bring back knowledge that can directly impact the lives of those in my community and many others. I feel grateful to learn from my peers, professors, and patients not only to become a proficient clinician, but also to be an advocate for increased access to care. Ultimately, I aspire to make advanced medical care more accessible, ensuring that geography or resources don't limit patients options to receive the healthcare they deserve.