At Pulmonary Hypertension India (PHI), we are all patients, undestroyed and undefeated veterans, trying to win the war against Pulmonary Hypertension.
While our journey began years ago, 2020 marked a turning point. Confined by the pandemic, we were forced to connect and act collectively, leading to the creation of a more formal and impactful movement.
Co-founders:
Fueled by a growing number of patient volunteers across India, PHI champions patient advocacy, education, and community building. You’ll meet many of these inspiring individuals throughout the website. But first, let’s introduce the three co-founders who took the first courageous steps.
Shalaka Parab
From Heart Warrior to PH Advocate: A Mumbai PHighter’s Journey
Despite surviving a delayed diagnosis of a congenital heart defect in childhood, this Mumbai-based PHighter now navigates a different challenge: life with PH. She is passionate about evidence-based medicine and she is determined to use her life experiences and resources to build a robust infrastructure of support for PH patients across India. Shalaka pursued postgraduate education in International Relations, Corporate Communications, and Financial Management. Her professional work is in the area of strategic business communications and stakeholder relations. In her leisure hours, she devours global literature, cultivates a thriving indoor jungle (hello, fresh oxygen!), and makes memes about her life with PH.
Email: shalaka@pulmonaryhypertensionindia.org
Roshni Chaudhari
Mumbai’s Beauty with a Powerful Voice: Roshni Chaudhari’s Fight for Awareness
Roshni Chaudhari, a Mumbai-based beauty and fashion influencer and a fashion stylist, is yet another survivor of a congenital heart defect (CHD) and lives to tell the tale, quite literally. She has planned, produced, and executed multiple high-level awareness campaigns about CHD-PH and other types of PH on the PHI platform and her social media channels. Neither PH nor Eisenmenger’s syndrome prevents her from amplifying the voices and needs of PH patients across India and she hopes her efforts can take us one step closer to a PH-free future. Roshni is also a big skincare enthusiast and her favourite pastime is watching movies and shows in bed.
Email: roshni@pulmonaryhypertensionindia.org
Dr. Prachita Shah
From Microbes to Mighty Advocate: Dr. Shah’s Fight for Indian Patients
Dr. Shah, a Surat-based clinical microbiologist, shatters the mold. Diagnosed with Idiopathic PH, she’s become a passionate educator and advocate within the medical field. Her mission? Ensuring all Indian PH patients have access to the latest advancements in PH management. In her free time, she likes co-hosting fun events and believes that happiness, determination, and optimism are the best tools in the fight against PH.
Email: prachita@pulmonaryhypertensionindia.org
Together, we are unbeatable!
PHI stands as a testament to resilience and unity in the face of adversity. From its humble beginnings to its current impactful presence, this organization embodies the undeterred spirit of its founders, members and all volunteers.
P.S.: We are powered entirely by the might and muscle of Indian PH Patients. Currently, we are not backed, financed, promoted, or sustained by doctors, clinics, hospitals, or pharma-medtech companies from any part of the world.
A big shout out to our Website Team!
This website is the loving handiwork of the co-founders and the following enthusiastic and proficient pulmonary hypertension patients, a.k.a. PHighters:
Rahul Ranjan – A web developer from Bengaluru who lives with CHD, OSA and PH. Despite his health challenges, Rahul’s passion for coding and reading remains undiminished. During leisure hours, you’ll often find him immersed in virtual worlds, either conquering castles or meticulously crafting cities on his PlayStation.
Nitya Gupta – A talented book designer and editor from New Delhi, Nitya bravely navigates life with PH secondary to Thalassaemia. Alongside her artistic pursuits, she fervently advocates for both chronic conditions. Despite grappling with the complexities of two serious illnesses, Nitya stands as a symbol of strength and resilience, igniting inspiration through her unwavering spirit and advocacy efforts.
If you have any suggestions for our website team or want to contribute stories and information, do drop us a message.