Meet Steven! He’s been with The Max Foundation since 2025, working as a Program Coordinator in 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?
It has always been my dream to serve the community and be a catalyst to empower individuals. The mission and vision of The Max Foundation highlights that each life is valuable and should be treated with respect and dignity which reinforced my desire to contribute to this meaningful cause.
What is a special memory you have with patients?
Something that I found mesmerizing was the energy and the enthusiasm every individual brings. The lives and testimonies that patients shared in my individual conversations with them through the interactions in the office, patient support group meetings and phone calls felt truly empowering.
Seeing them grow and achieve greatness despite their conditions changed my perception of the willpower and strength that each human being carries despite the challenges they face in life.
I remember meeting a patient during our recently concluded patient support group meeting in Kerala who said, “These meetings fill me with great joy as I get to personally meet the ones who have been my constant source of support,” which greatly encouraged me.
Describe a typical work week
My typical work week involves completing the review calls for the Day-by-Day program, attending patient calls and addressing queries, clinic visits and collaborating with colleagues through teleconference discussions. Toward the end of the week, I review my organizational and personal progress, carry out follow ups for low priority or pending tasks and complete my weekly activities.
If you could describe The Max Foundation in three words, what would they be?
1. Refuge 2. Beacon 3. Anchor
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?
One of the skills I consider valuable would be the capacity to master and comprehend all languages and dialects, helping me communicate effortlessly with people from diverse backgrounds and facilitating meaningful connections from people around the globe.
What languages do you speak?
I can speak English, Hindi, Marathi, and Malayalam
What do you love most about where you live?
It gives me access to a plethora of my favorite restaurants and hangout spots. It’s convenient, has variety, and makes spending time with loved ones more enjoyable.
When you’re not working, what do you like to do for fun?
Going out for long drives, hanging out with my friends, and playing board games with my family.
What’s your favorite food?
I am unequivocally a “pizza” person.
If you could have dinner with someone famous, who would it be?
I believe it would be Robin Williams as I enjoyed his movies, a man who knows how to balance humor and emotion would be nice to have a casual yet meaningful conversation with.
What is your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate it?
Christmas is my favorite holiday because it brings family and friends together for get-togethers, activities, and long-awaited celebrations. The joy of spending quality time with loved ones, participating in festive traditions, and enjoying the warmth of togetherness makes this holiday truly special.
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 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….
Each year I am humbled by the extraordinary work and dedication of our 68 Max Global Network partners, hailing from over 50 countries around the world, that tirelessly dedicate their time and resources to improving the lives of people living with cancer worldwide. I would like to take moment to acknowledge just a few of….
In Vietnam, due to the lack of specialist in rural areas, a significant number of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with minimal cash in hand must travel hundreds to thousands of kilometers to reach the hospitals in the city. The expenses for the trip itself is already a challenge for many patients let alone the cost of treatment. But today, there are numerous CML survivors who directly benefit from The Max Foundation’s patient access program to receive their cancer treatment at no cost. A living testimony to the success of our program is Lan.
