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Sasha Rai is lighting the path for those who come after him 鈥� just like his grandfather

Growing up in India,聽Dr.聽Sasha Rai recalls how his grandfather, a physician, treated people who couldn鈥檛 afford care.

鈥淚 learned a lot from how he helped his patients,鈥澛燚r.聽Rai says. 鈥淭hey were so grateful for his care.鈥�

Today聽Dr.聽Rai is a forensic psychiatrist who knows exactly how his grandfather felt when helping those in need. That鈥檚 because he treats those incarcerated at the Denver City and County jails.

鈥淢y grandfather is one of the main reasons I work in the jail,鈥澛燚r.聽Rai says. 鈥淚 get to take care of the most marginalized and underserved patients.鈥�

Noticed he聽says聽鈥淚 get鈥� to take care and not just 鈥渢ake care.鈥� And he uses 鈥減atients鈥� and not 鈥渋nmates鈥� or 鈥減risoners.鈥澛燚r.聽Rai treats people and he loves it.

But as he鈥檚 settled into his work, Dr. Rai came to realize he wanted to grow the footprint he leaves on lives and healthcare

His plan? He will continue serving those in聽prison聽but he also wants to innovate, to find new avenues to deliver better mental health care.

What would that look like?

鈥淎 better system would mean more seamless transitions of care with the jails, outpatient, inpatient and emergency rooms,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his would also let us share more and better data and improve the overall quality of care.鈥�

Now, as a Master of Health Administration (MHA) student, Dr. Rai is already using what he鈥檚 learning to plan and create those better systems of care 鈥� care that will light the path for those who come after him.

Care that carries on 鈥� in the tradition of his grandfather.