Placement Organizations

Growing up between the United States and Nepal, Saisha developed a deep curiosity about health systems early on. She witnessed firsthand how both countries, despite their differences, struggle with gaps in access, equity, and infrastructure. That curiosity turned into a lifelong mission to get to the root of why things are the way they are, and how we can change them.

She's since worked across top U.S. health systems like Massachusetts General Hospital and Kaiser Permanente, and now serves as a Senior Analyst at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), supporting state and territorial health departments through large-scale public health initiatives focused on data modernization and infrastructure.

Saisha applied to BirthRight Nepal to reconnect with her heritage, contribute her skills to community-driven solutions, and gain a more grounded understanding of health systems in Nepal- insights she hopes to carry forward in shaping more effective public health systems globally. She's most excited to collaborate with the Dhulikhel hospital team, bridge global and local perspectives, and be part of a transformative summer of learning, belonging, and of course- eating momo.

Having being born in Kathmandu and moving out of Nepal at only age 1, Shaswat has always been curious about his home country. He spent his childhood in Berlin Germany, before moving to the United States at age 12
There, he went to high school and college in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Shaswat is looking forward to use his skills to make real impact to the healthcare system in Nepal. He is happy to have found an organization like Birthright Nepal, as he's been looking for a way to reconnect with his Nepali roots. Outside of being a software engineer, Shaswat is dedicated to do his part to contribute meaningfully to his communities in the U.S. and Nepal.

Shaswat will be involved with the ASK Foundation this summer. He hopes to better understand the healthcare system in Nepal, and to apply his technical knowledge to make improvements in rural telemedicine platforms that can connect remote villages with urban medical specialists. Outside of work, Shaswat enjoys soccer, reading books and watching sports.

Born and raised in small-town Pennsylvania, Manasa has long explored how stigma around reproductive health, especially menstrual health, manifests in both Nepal and the U.S. Lacking a nearby Nepalese community, she found connection through activism and grassroots work.
 

Graduating this May from The George Washington University with degrees in Public Health and Dance, and a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Manasa has pursued interdisciplinary work. She's interned with Set Her Free in Uganda, volunteered with the Global South Coalition for Dignitied Menstruation, and led Capital Funk, a DMV-based hip hop team. She's also organized panels like the Spring 2024 Women's Leadership Conference on menstrual stigma, centering art, identity, and lived experience in her work.

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Manasa applied to Birthright Nepal to reconnect with her culture, learn from grassroots leaders, and explore how art and culture can drive public health change. She's excited to contribute to community-driven efforts, deepen her understanding of her heritage, and make her parents proud.