Sailaja KAMARAJU

My journey into medicine began in my childhood in India, where I was born in a university town. My father was a biology professor who started a free medical camp for homeless communities, and I began volunteering there as a middle school student, working my way from the gate to registration to assisting doctors. My grandmother took us to Mother Teresa's home for the aged and homeless, and these experiences, combined with my mother's work feeding the poor, shaped who I am today. I attended Catholic convents all my life, including St. Ignatius Girls High School and a girls' college, before attending medical school. I came to the U.S. during my last year of medical school for clerkship training at UT San Antonio, then completed my residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and my fellowship for cancer training at the University of Minnesota Cancer Center. I came to Milwaukee and spent 8 years in private practice, where I was involved in cancer survivor committees and community outreach programs. About 13-14 years ago, I moved to academia at the Medical College of Wisconsin because I wanted to dedicate 100% of my time to breast cancer, teaching, and research. Since entering academia, my learning curve has been incredibly steep. I completed a 3-year Master's in Clinical and Translational Science, a Clinical Research Scholars Program, and I'm currently enrolled in a leadership course. The trust that patients put in me is my most notable achievement, more than any award. I have been blessed to receive recognition including the Champions in Women's Health Award from Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation presented by Sue Ann Thompson in May 2015, the Cancer Disparities Research Award from MCW in September 2019, and the Faculty Vitality Award in May 2021. My work with the Susan G. Komen Foundation grew from a simple observation that many women in Milwaukee, regardless of education or insurance status, carried fear and taboo about breast health. I started an annual Women's Health Event that evolved into a comprehensive program funded by Komen for 4 years, reaching over 500 women and providing free mammograms through the Wisconsin Well Women's Health Program. This work has been published and recognized by ASCO, and I just got accepted for a JAMA Oncology commentary. I feel extremely blessed and grateful for being brought up by parents who instilled values of service, and I practice by offering a prayer for each patient I see, asking that they receive whatever their soul needs.