My Story
My curiosity about health goes beyond mere interest—it is an inheritance, rooted in both familial legacy and lived experience. My grandfather, an esteemed epidemiologist and clinician, and my grandmother, a devoted microbiologist, dedicated their careers to safeguarding public health in a nation still grappling with the devastation of World War II. Their work was shaped by an era of profound scientific progress, where the study and prevention of infectious diseases were paramount.
Under my grandmother’s watchful eye, I spent my childhood lingering in the quiet hum of her laboratory, where the world unfolded in miniature beneath the lens of a microscope. I was mesmerized by the unseen dance of life, the delicate battles waged on glass slides—an entire cosmos contained within a single drop of water. In those after-school hours, breathing in the sterile scent of research, I developed a deep reverence for scientific inquiry and an enduring curiosity about the intricate forces that shape human health.
Then, upheaval came—a struggle for independence. The first breakaway republic rose in defiance, its voice echoing through the corridors of history. A peaceful protest against Soviet rule was met with unimaginable brutality, staining the streets with sorrow and altering the course of our nation—and my own life—forever.
My family was uprooted, carried across oceans to the United States, a land both vast and unfamiliar. I arrived in my formative years, wandering its landscapes, feeling unmoored—adrift in a place that did not yet know my name. But fate, like a tide, has a way of returning us to the shores that call us home. Fifteen years later, I found myself back in my homeland, standing at the helm of creative endeavors at the highest levels of government, during a brief, golden era of democracy. It was there that I discovered my purpose—a life dedicated to serving others—one that weaves together the creation of beauty, the art of storytelling, and the pursuit of meaningful impact.
But purpose, like life itself, is ever evolving in its expression. I was drawn back to the States, summoned by duty, by love—my grandmother, once vibrant, was suddenly thrust into a time of quiet reflection as unforeseen events spiraled. I sat with her in the hush of a hospital room, the beeping machines marking time as she recounted the profound journey of her remarkable life to me. Her voice, strong yet gentle, carried the weight of history—of survival, of sacrifice, of resilience. And as she spoke, a thought stirred restlessly in my mind: I should have been recording this.
I promised myself I would capture her story next time. But the next time never came.
In the moments of loss, I saw, with aching clarity, the fractures within the healthcare system—the gaps where lives slip through. And just as painfully, I felt the void where stories once lived, now fading into silence, never to be told.
These experiences rekindled a spark from my childhood—a deep and abiding devotion to learning, a fascination with the delicate interplay of forces that influence human longevity, the quest to restore energy and trace the fragile yet extraordinary threads of lasting vitality. Since then, I have devoted myself to creating projects that do more than tell stories—they illuminate, guide, and empower. For within every narrative lies the power to heal, to inspire, and to shape the course of our collective well+being.