Meet our Team: Debraj Mukherjee
The value of cultural awareness has been a prominent fixture in Debraj�s life. From a youngster who participated in cultural plays to a young adult who has served as a board member of an undergraduate cultural organization, cultural awareness has been an important thread throughout Debraj�s life. More than simply providing him with an outlet to dance in cultural shows, awareness of his Indian heritage has given Debraj a sense of stability and identity. After more than ten years away from his relatives in Kolkata, India, Debraj recently had the opportunity to visit again. This opportunity not only gave him the chance to reacquaint himself with the people and places he had known so well as a child, but it also provided him the opportunity to more intimately connect with the cultural heritage that has become such an integral part of his identity and daily life. It was viewing the often deplorable state of health care awareness in some remote parts of West Bengal that peaked Debraj�s interest in actively participating with the City of Joy project.
Debraj continues to be drawn to the practice of medicine for its promise of improving the standard of care and the quality of life for patients. Having been raised in a family lacking health insurance and having come to know the impoverished areas of Kolkata since his youth, Debraj recognized free clinics in America and health missions to India as refuges for those in need. Through his work with this project, Debraj hopes to help address the health care needs of the Indian people in a truly meaningful and lasting way. As he looks toward the future, it is simply Debraj�s desire to provide support for those who need help the most.