Framing Impact as a Fellow
The word “impact” is central to the Fellowship experience – from the program’s namesake to the countless times this buzzword surfaces during meetings, Fellows are encouraged to focus on the change we might create during ten months at our host organizations.
I entered this Fellowship expecting to measure my own impact through efficiency, focusing on how quickly I completed tasks and how much I accomplished during the Fellowship. However, my time in the field alongside community health workers is challenging that assumption and reshaping my understanding of public health. I am learning that strong relationships are not merely a perk or byproduct of the work – they are the most essential foundation which require patience and presence.
Lessons from the Field
I glance at my watch: 6pm. The sun has just finished setting, and I feel a faint rumble in my stomach. The evening air is sticky and humid – a promise of the balmy summer afternoons to come. Usually, by this time of day, my post-office routine is well underway, a workout at the gym, an evening snack, and quiet time to relax at home before dinner. Today, however, I’m in the field in East Singhbhum, Jharkhand. So far, we’ve completed two meetings, attended a newborn home visit, eaten a delicious lunch at a roadside dhaaba, and traveled over three hours by car. I’m tired and my brain is foggy, a mix of Hindi and English swirling in my head as I replay the day’s events. As ready as I am to return home, our work isn’t done – one more meeting remains. My colleagues and I hop back in the car, passing vibrant green rice paddy fields and children riding bicycles through villages. We complete our last meeting at a community health center where we tour a birthing center, discuss our upcoming work plans, and of course drink chai (possibly our 5th cup of the day). We arrive back in Jamshedpur a few hours later, my head heavy from almost 12 hours of travel and work.
We had spent the day alongside Sahiya Saathis, community health worker facilitators, preparing for the educational videos I am filming on home based newborn care skills (HBNC), a cornerstone of the Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative (MANSI), the project I am supporting this year. One of my central tasks is to meet with Sahiya Saathis and select who will appear in these videos. On the surface, the idea of traveling three hours for just a few meetings feels inefficient. Couldn’t these conversations happen over the phone?
Slowing Down
Before the Fellowship, I worked in a corporate environment for four years. My days were often filled with back-to-back meetings that rarely left time to eat lunch or pause. Over time, my schedule took on a sense of stress and scarcity as I moved quickly from one task to the next, constantly working against looming deadlines. I unknowingly carried this mindset with me when I began the Fellowship, expecting speed, efficiency, and quick results. These notions were challenged as I began spending time in the field and found that the more intentional (and slower) I could allow myself to be, the better. The strong working relationships I am forming with Sahiya Saathis would not be possible without time and genuine presence.
One meeting stands out: my colleagues and I sit together eating rasgulla and namkeen at a Sahiya Saathi’s home before heading out on a backyard adventure to a government-run mango garden. There, I learn about local agricultural initiatives and the community’s connection to them. We return to her living room to chat about my life in the U.S. and take pictures before our departure. These moments allow the Sahiya Saathis to get to know me – not just as a Fellow, but as a person. In turn, our video shoots together feel easier, more collaborative, and genuinely enjoyable.
My Fellowship experience is continually reshaping how I think about impact. In part, the success of my project is thanks to letting go of the speed and efficiency I had once prioritized and making space for trust and deeper understanding. Ultimately, with each day I spend in the field, I am learning that the most meaningful work sometimes moves slowly and intentionally.
