From the president
Ms. Aparna Ramakrishnan has demonstrated exceptional commitment to social justice, mental health advocacy, and health equity during her time at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). She effectively connected student voices to policy changes and led initiatives that fostered student-driven civic engagement. She also led a team of UIC students volunteering in the University of Illinois Hospital’s pediatric ward, creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage with hospitalized children.
Her advocacy for mental health reform is impressive. She testified in support of HB4358, which seeks to strengthen campus mental health services and implement a suicide prevention plan. She also met with over 10 state legislators to address the student mental health crisis, demonstrating her commitment to proposing practical, evidence-based solutions.
As a Research Assistant in UIC’s College of Medicine, Ms. Ramakrishnan has used a data-driven approach to improve the physician-patient experience and shape healthcare policy for underserved populations. She has also helped destigmatize mental health in the Asian American community through workshops and by raising awareness of support resources.
Ms. Ramakrishnan will undoubtedly advance the fellowship’s mission through her passionate commitment to social justice, mental health advocacy, and improving access to care for underserved communities.
Personal Statement
In high school, I remember sitting in class, overwhelmed by anxiety I didn’t know how to name. After finding the Crisis Text Line online, I realized how many students like me were silently struggling. But some never got the chance to ask for help. I lost peers to suicide and saw how stigma and lack of access to care devastated my community. That pain fueled my decision to write and testify for Illinois HB1778, now a law that places suicide prevention lines on the backs of every student ID in the state. Since then, I’ve led and testified for numerous pieces of legislation in Illinois, led student town halls, and researched Medicaid care coordination- all with the goal of amplifying community voices and addressing gaps in youth mental health care. My work starts with listening: to parents in Alaska worried about their children aging out of CHIP or to students navigating trauma. Their stories guide my policy goals.
I believe real change happens when we blend lived experience with policy innovation. As a future child psychiatrist and public health leader, I’m committed to building systems where all young people- no matter where they live- can access the care, compassion, and support they deserve.