Meet the multidisciplinary team getting ready to make an impact in India

Allied Health ProfessionalsDieteticsIndiaNursingPalliative Care

Nicole Baptiste

“I am the Lead Enteral Nutrition Nurse for the Adult Service and have been working in the Clinical Nutrition Department at CUH for the past seven years. I work with both patients and professionals across various specialities, which has enhanced my clinical skills and allows for a healthy exchange of ideas and practice solutions to improve a patient’s outcome and recovery. I provide patients with education and training to enable them to self-care or for care to be provided away from a hospital environment. 

I supported a talk presented by a colleague involved in the Rama Foundation and found it very interesting. Discussions were around trouble- shooting complications at a gastrostomy site… exciting stuff! I am always intrigued to know what has been tried before and recognise it’s sometimes a case of ‘back to basics’. I am keen to contribute as one of the nurses joining the visit for the first time this year. 

The Rama Foundation has helped establish key roles to improve patient outcomes and staff development through volunteering. I am excited, nervous and grateful for the opportunity to travel to Rishikesh and Dehradun to volunteer my time and share my knowledge and clinical skills to support patient care and pathways. I look forward to sharing clinical practice and improving patient care and outcomes as we work alongside teams on both sites; learning about local traditions, food and culture.”

Rebecca Perry 

“I’m a Dietitian at CUH where my role is split between acute stroke and rehabilitation wards, including medicine for the elderly, infectious diseases and vascular. It’s my first role since completing my Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics last March. 

When I heard about the opportunity to volunteer with the Rama Foundation this summer, I was very eager to apply as it combined my passion to help people and for my job with my desire to travel and learn about new cultures. I hope to learn new skills that will help my development both professionally and personally.  

As someone who is still quite newly qualified, there are many aspects of healthcare that I am yet to learn about. I am also keen to put what I have learned over the last year to the test by working with patients and colleagues from an entirely different country and culture. I am expecting to have a varied experience in the hospice, hospital and on home visits, creating and delivering presentations on a range of topics, and liaising with the hospital’s dietitian and other healthcare professionals. I am most nervous about feeling overwhelmed by the vast difference between India and my home and trying to apply myself to a new environment as best as I can.  

I hope this trip will leave me with lifelong memories as well as a strong sense of perspective, the ability to adapt to different situations and a stronger sense of self-confidence at work and in my personal life.”

Helen Mercer

“I am Lead Nurse for the Acute Healthcare Strategy at CUH. This role is relatively new for me and involves challenging existing healthcare practices and developing strategies to inform the future of healthcare in our region. My career at CUH commenced in 2002, and since then I have gained experience in orthopaedics, acute medicine, and predominantly urgent and emergency care services. I am deeply passionate about enhancing patient care. 

The enthusiasm and commitment that I encountered when speaking with members of the Rama Foundation were truly inspiring, motivating me to become involved. I have had the privilege of volunteering on an orthopaedic programme in Myanmar in the past, which has given me insight into the various challenges faced by healthcare systems in other countries. 

The Rama Foundation has not previously included a nurse in their travels, presenting an exciting opportunity for me to expand our connections within the broader multi-disciplinary workforce. My objective is also to explore how we can develop collaborations across services and share our knowledge and skills. This experience will help broaden my understanding of healthcare challenges and how to address them collaboratively.” 

Maddie Whitbread

“I am a Specialist Hepatology and Liver Transplant Dietitian at CUH and have previously worked as a Gastroenterology, Stroke and General Medical/Surgical Dietitian. I am keen to share my knowledge and experience in Nutrition and Dietetics and I hope that it will be helpful to the people and groups we meet on this trip. I am also very excited to experience India, a completely new and different country. I am sure I will make memories I will cherish for a lifetime! 

I have always been keen to take part in a volunteering project in a different country and to give back to those who are less fortunate than I. Volunteering with the Rama Foundation feels like the perfect opportunity as I can combine my career development with helping those from some of the most disadvantaged areas in India. From the conversations we have had about previous trips I have seen the positive impact the team has had. 

I am very grateful for the work of the Rama Foundation and the planning and organising involved that will enable us to focus on the projects we’re taking part in. I am also very grateful for the kindness and generosity of all those who have donated to support us as we embark on this trip.”

Jenna Sendall

“I am a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) at CUH, currently covering the inpatient adult acute wards and running the outpatient neuro-oncology service. Having previously worked at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, St Thomas’ Hospital in London and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore I have been lucky to work across multiple areas of specialty including neurology, respiratory, spinal injuries, stroke, critical care, geriatric medicine and community. 

Soon after joining CUH I heard about Cambridgeshire Global Health Partnerships and thought how much I would love the opportunity to explore global health work at some point in my career. I have previously volunteered in Thailand, teaching young children English but have never had the opportunity to experience healthcare work in other countries…until now!  

The Rama Foundation has never had a Speech and Language Therapist travel with them before, so this is an exciting first all round. My aim for this trip is to learn and understand what Speech and Language Therapy looks like as a profession across various healthcare settings in Dehradun and Rishikesh, India. With this knowledge, I hope to establish a two-way connection to share clinical knowledge, practice and experiences, not only to promote the role of SLT but to support the progression and development of this essential profession within India. 

I am extremely grateful to be given this opportunity and excited to see how this trip shapes me both personally and professionally.” 

Azelia Braganza

“I am a Therapy Radiographer at CUH, specialising in the planning and delivery of radiotherapy for people undergoing cancer treatment. It’s a role that combines precision, science and empathy, and has shown me how important access to quality care is during some of the most vulnerable moments in a person’s life. 

I’m incredibly excited to be joining the team of Allied Health Professionals and nurses on the volunteering trip to India with the Rama Foundation. We’ll be supporting cancer and palliative care services in communities where healthcare resources are often limited. I’m looking forward to sharing knowledge from our practice in the UK, including developments in radiotherapy techniques and patient-centred care, and to be learning from the local professionals we will work alongside. I believe this will be a powerful exchange of skills and experiences. 

I’ve always wanted to take part in a project like this—one that combines my clinical role with a chance to serve others and learn in a completely new cultural setting. The Rama Foundation has made such meaningful contributions over the years and it’s an honour to be part of a team continuing that work. The Foundation’s vision of a sustainable, respectful partnership really resonated with me.”  

Dan Shortland

“I’m a specialist nurse in resuscitation at CUH and I’m incredibly excited to be preparing for the upcoming trip to India. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside healthcare professionals in a completely different setting and I feel immensely grateful to be part of it. 

I’ll be one of the first nurses involved in this project, supporting teams at a hospital and hospice in northern India. This is more than just a professional visit – it’s a chance to build meaningful connections, exchange knowledge, and create opportunities for shared learning. I look forward to exploring how our experiences, shaped by different cultural, social, and healthcare contexts, can complement each other to improve care for the people we serve. 

Throughout my career, I’ve worked across acute medicine, critical care and emergency nursing. I’ve also worked as a Nursing Officer aboard a cruise ship – a role that allowed me to travel the world and develop a strong appreciation for delivering care in diverse and challenging environments. 

This is the first time I will be volunteering in a resource-limited setting and I it will challenge and broaden my clinical thinking. Working in an environment where access to equipment, medications, and technology may be limited will not only deepen my appreciation of the resources we often take for granted, but it will also sharpen my problem-solving and adaptability – key skills in any healthcare setting. 

Equally, I know there is so much we can learn from our colleagues in India – from their clinical practices to their resilience, community-centred approaches, and ability to deliver excellent care despite constraints. This exchange is not one-way. It’s about mutual respect, collaboration, and creating a platform for long-term partnership.”

Charly Gilchrist  

“I’m an Advanced Specialist Speech and Language Therapist currently working on the Critical Care wards at CUH. I specialise in complex communication and swallowing impairments, as well as tracheostomy weaning. 

I am honoured to have been selected as the first East of England Allied Health Professional (AHP) Global Health Fellow. I applied for this fellowship to develop a deeper understanding of global health and contribute to improving patient experience, health outcomes, and reduce health inequalities. I am also passionate about raising awareness of global health within the AHP community—an area I believe remains under-recognised and underutilised. 

My fellowship project has focused on building a sustainable partnership between the Rama Foundation, Cambridge Global Health Partnerships (CGHP), the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT), and Ganga Prem Hospice in India. A central goal is to strengthen the AHP workforce at HIHT, where services are limited and care is largely doctor-led. Promoting AHP roles and autonomy aims to reduce pressure on medical teams and improve patient care. 

Now in the final stages of the fellowship, I’ve gained valuable skills in leadership, project management, interviewing, and cross-cultural communication, all of which enrich my clinical role. I was also proud to receive CGHP’s “Inspiring New Member” Award at their Annual Impact Celebration. 

This work lays the foundation for an ongoing partnership between CUH, HIHT, and Ganga Prem Hospice, with plans for future collaboration and reciprocal visits. I am excited to see how the partnership will develop over the years.”