Rachita Nikam

I attribute my success to my faith, my family, and my circle of close friends. Without their support, I do not think I would be where I am. I believe that having a strong sense of community is essential - we can't move forward in life without it. At the same time, having independence is equally important, so I'm grateful for people around me who value my sense of independence and ambition. I also think having a balance between work life and home life is very important, and I'm trying to prioritize that more. Having a group of people who are understanding and are able to listen to you, whether it be at work or in your home life, is highly important.

The best advice I've ever received is to not let the imposter syndrome take over. That voice runs strong in our profession, which is mostly women, and I think all of us struggle with that imposter syndrome from time to time. So make sure you keep that voice shut. Don't let the voice inside your head that tells you you're not good enough overpower your achievements. I've observed so many accomplished, successful women who just don't believe in themselves, and I don't think that's right. You should definitely trust your abilities. We all handle so much on a day-to-day basis, and there's enough room for all of us at the table - we're all important, we all have a role to play.

Trust your purpose, trust that the choices you make and the path that life leads you on is the best path for you, and do not let the voice inside your head that tells you you're not good enough overpower your achievements. Don't let imposter syndrome take over, because that runs strong in our profession. It's mostly women in genetic counseling, and I think all of us struggle with that from time to time. So many accomplished, successful women just don't believe in themselves, and I don't think that's right. You should definitely trust your abilities and remember that we all handle so much on a day-to-day basis.

The biggest challenge in my field right now is the fact that we are not recognized by Medicare and Medicaid as healthcare professionals. Our field has actually put forth a bill through Congress to get that recognition, and it's currently being considered by Congress. The lack of acknowledgement from healthcare institutions to hire more professionals like myself limits access to genetic care. Genetics, even though highly specialized, is part of every aspect of medicine today, and patients need to be educated. True informed consent processes need to take place when it comes to genetic information. I think one way we need to improve access is getting that recognition from insurance companies, because when we increase reimbursement, we increase hiring. This would allow more people to access the specialized care they need.

I think having a balance is very, very important, and I'm trying to prioritize that more. Having a group of people who are understanding and are able to listen to you, whether it be at work or in your home life, is highly important. I don't think we can move forward in life without having a strong sense of community. At the same time, I think having independence is equally important, and as important as having community, so people that are around you that value your sense of independence and ambition. I also don't think you can work in a field that thrives on compassion without having a creative outlet - that's why I pursue so many creative interests like Indian classical dance, Hindustani classical music, poetry, artwork, painting, and embroidery.