Scholarship honors alumna, helps first-generation student pursue career as a genetic counselor

Translating for her Indian immigrant parents left a lasting impression on Kajal Chaudhari. "I've been helping my mom with her doctor's appointments since middle school," she recalled. "Even now, she calls me because of the language barrier."

This experience inspired Kajal to pursue a career in genetic counseling, a field dedicated to ensuring patients fully understand their health care options. At home, Kajal and her family spoke Gujarati, one of India's 22 recognized languages. "I learned to translate complex English information into our native language for my parents," she explained. "Genetic counseling felt like a natural extension of that skill."

Kajal is currently studying for her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling at the MUSC College of Health Professions. She will be the first in her family to earn a master's degree, and she and her sister are already the first college graduates in their family. The program's hybrid online format was a significant factor in her decision to choose MUSC. "The flexibility of the first year being remote was crucial for me," she said. "Learning more about the faculty and staff only made my decision easier."

"Your generosity has a tremendous impact on individuals like me."

Kajal is paying for school with her savings. "I've always been a penny pincher and it's paying off now," she shared. She also continues to work full-time as clinical lab manager, analyzing patient cases for abnormal cells that may indicate cancer or DNA markers for genetic diseases. "My first year was remote, so I was working in California. Now, I work remotely and attend school in person."

Balancing a full-time job with her studies is intense. "I wake up around 4:35 a.m., start my job, head to clinic by nine, and continue working and studying in the evenings and weekends," she said. "But I'm making it work."

Under the careful supervision of a faculty member, Kajal and her classmates rotate through clinics and other professional settings to gain real-world experience counseling patients. Kajal vividly recalls a moment during a patient session when she knew she was on the right career path. "I was counseling a very nervous and upset patient. By the end of the session, they were comfortable and empowered by their choices. That was the moment where I realized this is what I want to do. The beauty of counseling is not making decisions for patients but helping them understand their options."

Earning the Mary Eileen Leonard Endowed Scholarship also gave her confidence and much-needed financial relief. "It meant a lot. It helped me buy more books and helped make my savings go further."

Leonard, a 1947 MUSC Medical Technology graduate, worked at MUSC for 33 years and at Roper Hospital for 22 years. Her family and friends created a scholarship in her memory when she died in 2016.

Kajal is deeply grateful to donors who choose to give to or create scholarships.

"Thank you," she said. "Your generosity has a tremendous impact on individuals like me. I hope you know how much we appreciate it."