Menopause research

I am deeply grateful to be serving as first author on an in-progress medical humanities publication with Dr. Niranjana Ganeshan (VIT). Together, we are examining the stigma and silence surrounding menopause among immigrant women, and how cultural identity shapes this important life stage.

For this project, I not only co-authored the manuscript but also created my own original case study, designed to highlight how stigma impacts real lived experiences. To build this work, I:

• Wrote the manuscript alongside my professor, contributing to both structure and analysis

• Conducted and analyzed 10+ in-depth interviews with immigrant women, listening to their stories of resilience and challenge

• Designed and implemented an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework, ensuring voices were represented with depth and authenticity

• Developed a case study synthesizing interview findings into a powerful narrative tool for exploring how stigma, culture, and healthcare inequities intersect

This research goes beyond academic interest it underscores how medical humanities can bridge culture and medicine, and how immigrant voices must be centered in conversations about women’s health.

The paper is currently in progress, but I’m proud of how it brings visibility to a neglected area of health equity. I hope this work contributes to dismantling stigma and creating more compassionate healthcare for women everywhere.

This research was approved by an international ethics committee.