Gerard Circle Giving Story
Dr. Pradeep Ramesh and Dr. Rachana Krishna
Year Joined Gerard Circle: 2016
Connection to UnityPoint Health: Dr. Pradeep Ramesh and Dr. Rachana Krishna have called the Cedar Valley home for 18 years. They came to the Cedar Valley to practice medicine, and both have been with UnityPoint Health - Waterloo for more than a decade. The couple has two children who were both born at Allen Hospital, as well. The Waterloo/Cedar Falls area was their first home away from India, and over the past several years they have continued to build relationships with colleagues, patients and friends in the area. One additional connection, Dr. Ramesh also serves on the Allen Foundation Board of Directors.
Employment History: Both Dr. Ramesh and Dr. Krishna began their careers in Waterloo at the Peoples Community Health Clinic, Dr. Ramesh served there for five years, and Dr. Krishna for 10. However, even while with Peoples, much of their time was spent at Allen Hospital where they would come to see inpatients.
Why are you inspired to give back to the Allen Foundation and give so generously to local health care?: Dr. Krishna shared that her father made philanthropy a big priority and he was quite generous. This philanthropic mindset of helping others was instilled in her and her brother at a young age. Dr. Ramesh has been inspired to give because of their time in the Cedar Valley. They have settled in, calling it a home away from home. He says he felt like they needed to give back to something that had given them so much. Both consider themselves blessed and truly have a satisfaction in sharing with others.
As physicians, both feel that giving back to local health care is important to achieving not only good health, but also access to care, access to medications, and other social determinants of health. They’ve seen the growth of UnityPoint Health - Waterloo since moving here 18 years ago and want to give forward to the next generation.
What does being a member of Gerard Circle mean to you: Both say it is a privilege to be members of Gerard Circle. Dr. Krishna says she is honored to be a part of a group that collectively has given so much. Both have found role models in the group, including other physicians like Dr. Russell Adams and Dr. Dan Glascock. Dr. Ramesh and Dr. Krishna feel it is important to instill this giving spirit with their children. Both of their children have given back monetarily as well as through the gift of time. Their daughter volunteers at Allen Hospital and both their son and daughter have aspirations of serving as physicians in the future.
Why is philanthropy in our community/workplace important to you?: As clinicians, both doctors feel they need to lead by example in giving back to support health care. They feel that if those in health care don’t give back, we can’t expect the non-medical community to support organizations like UnityPoint Health. They see an income disparity in the Cedar Valley and understand the importance of supporting those in need. As Dr. Ramesh says, “We are able to share with others and then everyone is happy.”