Vrushali Thakkar was born in India and grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. She graduated from Emory University, studying English and Global Health. Passionate about women’s health, medical research, and international development, she previously worked as a Refugee Health Associate at the International Rescue Committee and as a Research Assistant at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory and Weill Cornell Medical College.
Vrushali is a staff member at T.E.A.L.®, stationed at New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital’s Gynecologic Oncology department. Her main focus is assisting patients throughout their journey from diagnosis to treatment. She offers personalized support, including educational materials to aid in decision-making, help with everyday cancer-related challenges like transportation and insurance, and connections to support groups and community resources. Vrushali also works to reduce health disparities by increasing enrollment of underrepresented patients in clinical trials and improving treatment compliance by addressing barriers like cost and misinformation. This position is part of a pilot program funded by the Direct Relief Fund.
