“When Purpose Becomes a Path” — Dr. Ridima Kamal on Public Health, Healing, and Building Communities That Care
Dr. Ridima Kamal (BDS, MPH, PhD Pursuing) is a dentist-turned-public health professional whose career spans community health, global health operations, and health systems development. She currently serves as Chief Manager of Partnerships & Collaborations at Aarogya Seva and is the Founder of PHPCG – Public Health Professionals Coalition for Global Impact, one of India’s fastest-growing communities for aspiring and mid-career public health professionals.
After spending years working across the rural Northeast, from Mizoram to Majuli, Ridima has recently moved to Lucknow, a city that became a turning point in her personal and professional journey. This transition not only gave her a renewed sense of belonging and purpose but also led her to create RISHI, a wellbeing initiative rooted in rebuilding life after emotional adversity. Her work continues to be shaped by humanity, community, and a deep belief that healthcare begins with compassion.
THE CONVERSATION
- You began your journey in dentistry before shifting to public health. What sparked that transition?
Dentistry taught me precision, discipline, and the ability to work with focus. But even during my early years, I felt drawn toward something larger, toward communities, toward people whose health challenges extended beyond clinical settings. When I volunteered with Aarogya Seva, I realized that healthcare didn’t end at treatment; it expanded into systems, behaviours, and lived experiences. Public health felt like the place where my compassion and curiosity finally aligned.
- You’ve spoken about starting without a clear roadmap. What did that phase feel like?
It was disorienting at times. I had all this passion but no direction. I didn’t know whom to approach, what specializations existed, or how to enter the field meaningfully. But that confusion also taught me resilience. It made me more determined to eventually build the kind of mentorship platform I never had access to early on.
- Was there a moment when you knew public health was your calling?
Absolutely. It happened during my time in Mizoram. After hours of fieldwork, coordinating teams, addressing community needs, travelling across difficult terrains, I sat alone and realized that even in exhaustion, I felt deeply fulfilled. It struck me then that purpose has a way of anchoring you. This work grounded me in a way nothing else ever had.
- You’ve worked extensively across the Northeast. Is there one story that stayed with you?
Majuli in Assam gave me a memory I will carry forever.
One evening, I found a mother crying outside her hut. When I gently asked what had happened, she told me her young son had a fever, and she didn’t know what to do. I examined him, gave him paracetamol, reassured her, and went back.
Early next morning in the wee hours, she knocked on my door, holding a thali full of food, an entire spread she had cooked overnight. Her son had recovered, and this was her way of saying thank you. That simple gesture reminded me why public health is not just about systems and data; it’s about trust, connection, and the quiet ways people express gratitude.
- Working in underserved regions often comes with challenges. What kept you going?
The people. Their strength, their trust, and their belief in us. Even when logistics were hard, poor connectivity, cultural barriers, unpredictable weather, every challenge felt meaningful. Fieldwork taught me that real change begins with presence.
- PHPCG has become a national movement. What inspired you to start it?
My own struggle.
I knew how isolating public health could feel for someone young and unsure of where to begin. I wanted to create a space where students, early-career professionals, and practitioners could find mentorship, opportunities, and support.
What began as a small WhatsApp group in 2022 has grown into a community where people come to learn, collaborate, and feel seen.
- What makes PHPCG special today?
It’s built on connection, not hierarchy.
PHPCG has become a space where questions are welcomed, collaborations happen naturally, and public health feels inclusive rather than intimidating. It is shaping a generation of professionals who lead with empathy and purpose.
- Public health can be emotionally heavy. How do you manage that weight?
With honesty and intent.
I’ve learned to pause, reflect, and set boundaries so I can show up sustainably. The emotional intensity of this work is real, but grounding myself in purpose helps me navigate the difficult days.
- What’s one misconception about public health you wish could change?
That it’s only about policies or numbers.
Public health is about stories, families, communities, behaviours, fears, and resilience. Every metric represents someone’s lived reality. Once you understand that, your approach becomes more compassionate and more human.
- As a woman in healthcare, what challenges have shaped you the most?
Being taken seriously at a young age.
I had to learn to claim my space without apologizing for it. Every challenge pushed me to grow, to question, and to strengthen my voice. It’s been a journey of learning how to lead with both empathy and firmness.
- Tell us about a leadership experience that impacted you deeply.
There was a time I had to coordinate a major operation under extremely unpredictable conditions. Nothing was certain: logistics, communication, or timelines. That experience taught me that true leadership isn’t about knowing all the answers; it’s about staying centered, supporting your team, and finding clarity when everything feels chaotic.
- What keeps you motivated on difficult days?
The communities I’ve worked with and continue to serve.
The messages from young professionals saying PHPCG helped them navigate confusion or find clarity. The belief that meaningful work, no matter how small, creates ripples. Purpose has always been my greatest source of strength.
- You recently moved to Lucknow, and it seems to have reshaped your life and work. What does this city mean to you now?
Lucknow became my turning point. I arrived here on my birthday seeking clarity, fresh air, and a place where I could rebuild myself after a year filled with emotional turbulence. Though I initially chose the city because it was close, accessible, and cost-effective, it soon gave me much more than I could have imagined.
In just five months, we grew from one person to a team of over fifty. People opened their homes to us, offered us projects, trusted our work, and embraced us with a generosity I had never experienced before. The city held me in a way I didn’t know I needed, it helped me return to who I once was before life became overwhelming.
Around the same time, I was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder following a series of traumatic experiences. My empathy has always been intense, and it caught up with me, manifesting as anxiety, tremors, and moments where I didn’t feel like myself. Seeking help was necessary. Healing required courage.
Lucknow became the place where I rebuilt my mind, my purpose, and my life. From this transformation, RISHI was born, a wellbeing initiative rooted in grounding oneself through simple, natural, intuitive practices. It stands for:
R – Restart your journey.
I – Introspect your plans.
S – Strengthen your ideas.
H – Harmony within.
I – Immediate actions.
RISHI is my way of giving back what Lucknow gave me, a sense of belonging, resilience, and hope. If you are in or around the city, you are welcome to join us. This project is born from the heart, and the heart of it is Lucknow.
- Who has been your biggest source of mentorship through all these transitions?
My mentor has been Dr. Dayaprasad G. Kulkarni, Founder and Director of Aarogya Seva. He has guided me with wisdom, clarity, and unwavering belief, long before I learned to trust myself. His leadership taught me humility, courage, and the true meaning of service.
Dr Dayaprasad G Kulkarni,
Founder and Director : Aarogya Seva
My inspiration and mentor
- What advice would you give young women entering public health?
Begin, even if you don’t have the perfect plan. Explore. Ask questions. Trust your intuition. Your voice matters, and public health needs leaders who are both compassionate and courageous.
- What dream are you building toward now?
A global, collaborative ecosystem where young public health professionals can access mentorship, opportunities, and community. I want PHPCG and RISHI to grow into platforms that redefine what support looks like in healthcare.
1st Public Health Professionals Mixer : 6th October 2024, Bangalore
Closing Note
Dr. Ridima’s story reminds us that healthcare isn’t just a career, it is a lived experience shaped by courage, vulnerability, and constant reinvention. From the remote corners of Northeast India to a life-changing rebirth in Lucknow, her journey is a testament to what happens when purpose meets resilience.
She doesn’t just work in public health.
She builds it—through people, community, and care.
