Stories of Dignity and Hope: India and Philippines
Cancer survivors like my mom are real heroes, not many people have the courage to look at death in the eye and say CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!
Meet the Max Team – Ashok
Meet Ashok! He’s been with The Max Foundation for six years, working as an Office Admin Assistant for our India region. Learn more about why he started with the organization, what his work week looks like, and a special memory he had with a patient.
What drew you to join The Max Foundation, and why does our mission resonate with you?
I was drawn to The Max Foundation because of its mission to provide cancer patients in need with access to critical medicines. The organization’s commitment to bridging gaps in healthcare resonates deeply with my own belief that every patient, regardless of circumstance, deserves the chance to receive life-saving treatment.
What is a special memory you have with patients?
One of my most treasured memories is of a patient who once shared words that have stayed with me ever since. “When we come back from the hospital tired, listening to your conversations gives us joy. Our fatigue disappears, and when you offer us tea, it brings us great pleasure. No one provides support like your organization does.”
Describe a typical work week.
Morning Setup
- Check emails
- Plan tasks for the day
- Review WhatsApp messages for Rx requests
- Respond to patient-related emails and messages
Communication
- Attend to Patients phone calls
- Call patients to invite for attending patient support group meeting
Patient Care
- Attend personally to patients in office
- Ensure smooth scheduling and follow-ups
Administrative Tasks
- E-filing of records
- Maintain and update educational material list
- Dispatch of material for Patient Support Group Meeting
- Maintenance of office
If you could describe The Max Foundation in three words, what would they be?
Helpful, Compassionate & Caring
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?
Written Communication
What languages do you speak?
Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi & English
What do you love most about where you live?
Access to parks, greenery surrounding my house.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun?
Listening to Bollywood songs.
What’s your favorite food?
Vegetable Biriyani
If you could have dinner with someone famous, who would it be?
Ratan Tata.
What is your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate it?
Navratri – by playing dandiya Raas. Dandiya Raas is a vibrant, traditional folk dance originating from Gujarat, India, performed with decorated bamboo sticks (called dandiyas) during the Hindu festival of Navratri.
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.
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