2010 Team: Maria Shikary

R4WH Fundraising and Sponsorship / National Team Rider
The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Ashland, OH

Hi, my name is Maria Shikary. I grew up in Ashland, OH and received my Bachelors degree from The Ohio State University (OSU) in International Studies and am currently a medical student at OSU.   I have had an interest in global health since college and I was first introduced to R4WH in my last year of undergrad.  I was fascinated that medical students who are already working so hard to merely finish their degrees could find the motivation to develop and sustain such amazing organization as R4WH.  I was immediately hooked and I couldn’t wait until I got the chance to do the ride.

In an effort to better understand the people of this world and their problems, I have traveled to almost every continent in the world.  Some of my favorite trips include a study abroad to Ecuador for Spanish and Uganda to work in an HIV/AIDS clinic. Additionally, I have been to Rwanda, India, Thailand, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, and many other places. All of these experiences have broadened my perspective of people, how we interact, what we value, and how much we can do for each other if we are innovative and altruistic.

In medical school, I have been involved with the International Health Interest Group as the fundraising co-chair to raise funds for programs involving global health and scholarships for medical students who wish to study abroad.  I have also worked for underserved populations within the US through an internship with The Universal Healthcare Action Network of Ohio and most recently by going on a medical rotation to the Hopi Indian Reservation in Arizona.