Fifteen years ago, Ashika joined The Max Foundation with a simple yet powerful motivation: to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Based in Bangalore, India, Ashika enjoys the city’s pleasant weather and its unique balance of energy and warmth. While she appreciates the place she calls home, it is the people she has met along the way who have had the greatest impact on her journey. Ask Ashika about what has kept her inspired throughout her years with The Max Foundation, and she won’t talk about milestones or achievements. Instead, she’ll talk about the people. What began as a professional opportunity soon became a deeply personal mission rooted in creating access and equity for patients.
One memory has stayed with her over the years. During a patient support group meeting, a patient asked how she was doing. When Ashika replied that she was well, the patient smiled and said, “That’s important. If you are well, then we will be well too.” She recalls that though this was a simple exchange, it was one that perfectly captured the power of compassion and connection. Moments like these remind her that even the smallest gestures can bring hope during life’s most difficult challenges.
Ashika’s days are filled with planning, coordinating, problem-solving, and supporting programs that help patients access the care they need. Her colleagues know her as someone who is incredibly patient, thoughtful, creative, and kind. No matter how many questions come her way, she is always willing to help. Despite her years of experience, Ashika believes she can always learn and discover something new.
Ashika’s curiosity shines outside of work, too. She dreams of mastering photography, though anyone who has seen her creative eye might argue she’s well on her way already. She loves travelling, exploring new places, enjoying movies and music, and proudly considers herself a foodie who could never choose just one favorite dish.
Ashika also speaks five languages: English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, and Tulu. Her multilingual fluency reflects both her love of connecting with people and the diversity of the communities she serves.
After 15 years with The Max Foundation, Ashika continues to be guided by the same belief that brought her here in the first place: that every patient deserves hope, support, and access to care. For her, being part of that journey remains the most meaningful reward of all.
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
When Ka came to Thailand for access to treatment, she had the chance to join the MaxSmiles patient group meetings. Ka started to dream about having her own meetings and soon found support from Dr. Mary Cluck, an Australian volunteer working with Cambodian CML patients. Ka stepped up and called the patients one-by-one to invite them to their first patient meeting.
Every year, throughout the month of October, we honor Max and his legacy by partnering with our network of cancer organizations to carry out the Maximize Life Global Cancer Awareness Campaign. It is a month of service that aims at decreasing stigma and increasing hope for people living with cancer around the world.
When Rushmie was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in 2004, she never imagined that the experience would one day shape how she showed up for others. At the time, Rushmie was living and working overseas, focused on her career and future. She described herself as naturally introverted and happiest working behind the scenes. Her….
