“Patients, colleagues, and my children are the fire in my life that keeps me going,” was warmly stated by Dr. Preeti Mehta, acute care physician at Scripps Memorial La Jolla, and mother to two daughters Nila and Maya. Being of service to the community and to family has been the cornerstone of Dr. Mehta’s life as one of four sisters growing up in India. Her parents, an engineer and a nurse, shaped her worldview as a child. “Trust that the universe is working for you and that it will help you succeed.” As a new physician in Mumbai, Preeti cared for the Indian people of this urban city with their broad spectrum of medical conditions. Dr. Mehta decided to expand her horizons with further training and experience in Internal Medicine at Boston’s Newton-Wellesley and Massachusetts General Hospital. With guidance from her mentor, Dr. Joel Rubinstein, she honed the due diligence of her diagnostic skills to go hand-in-hand with her caring bedside manner.
Now, as the current Board President of Champions for Health (CFH), and the President Elect for the Board of the San Diego County Medical Society (SDCMS), Dr. Mehta continues to tap into this network of physicians so that they too can become involved with CFH and make a difference in the lives of uninsured, vulnerable patients. “One of the most exciting aspects about joining the SDCMS was the foundation arm that is CFH. Champions for Health is a direct avenue to give back to the neediest patients who are unable to access to healthcare.” Preeti is also on the CFH Physician Recruitment Committee and has successfully steered specialty care physicians to provide pro bono services for Project Access San Diego. “Be the change that you want to see in the world is a quote by Mahatma Gandhi that shapes how I see the world in a new light. I picked my specialty of working in a hospital so that I can treat patients in the most vulnerable times of their life. I love interacting personally with my patients and have grown so much as a human being by listening to their stories. Helping patients in that moment in time and making a difference in their lives gives me great satisfaction.”
Joining the SDCMS and accepting the nomination for President allows Dr. Mehta to be a voice and strong advocate for her patients and fellow physicians. Her leadership will continue the good work of the SDCMS and CFH. This year’s joint event, United In Wellness Gala: Lighting The Way To Health on Saturday June 14th at the a event space in downtown San Diego, Eve at the RaDD, celebrates Dr. Mehta’s presidency and is a fundraiser for Project Access San Diego. This CFH program provides free specialty care services and surgeries to uninsured adults, ages 18+, with income of 139%-322% Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Our 200 physicians, hospitals and surgery centers volunteer their care and services, while our staff guide the patients through the process and provide free medical interpreting, transportation, diagnostic tests and medicines.
www.unitedinwellnessgala.org
