 Meet Pushpa Vadivel, M.D. –
Pediatrician
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
– M.K. Gandhi.
Pushpa Vadivel lives both personally and professionally by these simple yet resonating words from Gandhi. Born and raised in a small town in India, Vadivel developed a passion for service at a young age when she began caring for her grandfather who was suffering from lung cancer. When she was 10, her grandfather began a daily free lunch program for the homeless in their local community and it was there that she became exposed to serving those around her. At the age of 14, her grandfather passed away, but through him she was left with a living passion to help others and to become the first physician in their family.
Dr. Vadivel developed an interest in pediatrics while in medical school. During her first clinical rotation in pediatrics, she was struck by the prevalence of preventable community-acquired diseases. Beyond treating patients, she educated mothers on the importance of child immunization and basic hygiene. Dr. Vadivel empowered mothers with this knowledge so that they could then share these practices with their relatives and friends. In this way, she improved the health of many more children. Dr. Vadivel explains, “I witnessed the powerful ripple-effects of health education first-hand and have since emphasized prevention while treating patients. Reflecting upon this and other such experiences during medical college, I recognized pediatricians’ importance in improving the health of communities and future generations.”
Though she expected to practice pediatrics in India after graduating from medical school, she met her husband Hemanth, and moved with him to California in 2003. Upon her arrival to the Bay Area, she began shadowing pediatrics residents at the UCSF Children’s Hospital. Since then, she regularly attends conferences on cutting edge issues pediatricians face today. She joined Bay Valley Medical Group’s Hayward pediatrics department in 2009.
As new residents to the Bay Area, Dr. Vadivel enjoys spending time with her husband and four-year old son exploring San Francisco. In addition, they enjoy traveling the world, recently having visited Hawaii, Mexico and Spain. Dr. Vadivel loves experiencing the adventure in travel, and usually stays away from traditional tourist destinations in foreign countries. The real thrill, she believes, comes in experiencing the food and lifestyle of the locals.
When asked why she’s so committed to the practice of pediatrics, Dr. Vadivel responds, “My life-long journey of service helped me to discover my zeal for pediatrics. While my grandfather showed me the joy in serving others, my medical experiences helped me discover my passion for treating children. I view becoming a pediatrician as the best way to continue my journey of service.”
Dr. Pushpa Vadivel practices pediatrics in Bay Valley Medical Group’s Hayward office. To schedule an appointment with her, please call: 510-785-5000 |
