Today we’d like to introduce you to Rajendra Nath Dasari.
Hi Rajendra Nath, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Raj Dasari as the Founder & Director of Project Med & Ed, Project Med & Ed started from a moment that seemed small at first. In April 2025, my dad came home from work after running errands with a $15 first aid kit and about $30 worth of basic hygiene supplies. When I looked at the price tags, it hit me that for many families, especially in underserved and under-resourced communities, even these basic items are not easily affordable.
That realization went deeper. If people cannot access basic medical and hygiene supplies, they often also lack the knowledge to use them properly. Even fundamental skills such as CPR, first aid, hygiene practices, and mental health coping strategies are not always accessible or taught in a practical way.
I have always been interested in pursuing a career in medicine and healthcare, and I wanted to do something meaningful that aligned with both my future goals and my responsibility to my community. That led me to start Project Med & Ed, a student-led initiative focused on reducing health inequity by providing resources and practical medical education to underserved, underprivileged, and under-resourced populations.
After launching the project, I recruited 6 close friends to serve on the board and help turn the idea into something real. Each of them plays a key role in our work:
Shail Sakalabhaktula as Treasurer,
Harsh Akuthota as Director of Partnerships,
Hasi Kummeta as Secretary,
Saksham Saxena as Public Relations and Human Resources Manager,
Ansh Tolat as Marketing Officer, and Ashvath Maheshwaran as Director of Outreach and Sponsorships.
Their commitment has been essential to everything we have accomplished.
So far, we have raised over $400 in monetary donations and received $75 worth of donated supplies. We have used these resources to assemble and distribute 50 first aid kits, 40 hygiene kits, and 20 mental health kits with unique equipment and materials. We have also published 6 monthly medical literacy blogs, and we are currently preparing to host an educational event covering CPR, first aid, hygiene, and nutrition for foster children, in partnership with Hope House of Wake Forest.
Our growth has been gradual, but the impact has been real. Project Med & Ed began as a simple observation about access, and it has grown into a community-focused effort to make essential health knowledge and resources more accessible, one step at a time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. One of the earliest challenges came during June 2025, when I went door to door asking for donations in blazing 100 degree heat. I knocked on dozens of houses, sometimes more than fifty in a day, often hearing no or not getting an answer at all. It was physically exhausting and mentally discouraging at times, but it was also when I learned how much persistence the work would require.
As the project grew, keeping it active became its own challenge. Balancing school, leadership responsibilities, and daily life while trying to consistently move Project Med & Ed forward was not easy. Writing and posting monthly medical blogs took far more time than expected, from researching accurate information to revising and simplifying it so it was understandable and useful. There were many late nights spent editing, reworking ideas, and making sure the content stayed responsible and accessible.
Another ongoing struggle has been maintaining momentum. When progress is slow or results are not immediately visible, it can be hard to stay motivated and keep the team engaged. Developing partnerships, coordinating board members’ schedules, and planning events alongside academic pressure required constant adjustment and problem-solving.
Despite these obstacles, each challenge forced me to grow. The heat, the long walks, the rejections, and the time constraints all taught me discipline, resilience, and how to manage a mission-driven project in the real world. Those struggles shaped Project Med & Ed into something more sustainable and grounded, and they continue to push me to improve both as a leader and as someone committed to serving the community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Raj Dasari: I’m Raj Dasari, a student at the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences with a strong academic focus on medicine. Alongside my coursework and Project Med & Ed, I conduct research internships and mini-grants with NASA, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Museum of natural sciences, and I’m currently expanding my work with North Carolina State University, along with independent research which contributes to research peer reviewed publications, honoraria, and patented innovations in computational neuroscience, geospatial science and public health, which has strengthened my analytical and scientific writing skills. My research interests align closely with my long-term goal of becoming a neurosurgeon. I am most proud of building a solid research foundation while still in high school and working at a level that emphasizes evidence-based thinking. Balancing advanced research with a rigorous early college curriculum has challenged me to stay disciplined and focused. What sets me apart is my clear direction and early commitment to preparing for a career in neurosurgery.
Harsh Akuthota: I’m Harsh Akuthota, a student at Panther Creek High School and the director of partnerships of Project Med & Ed, where I work to support our community health efforts and partnerships. Alongside this, I volunteer with Sewa International, helping with service initiatives focused on underserved communities. I plan to pursue computer science and engineering, and I enjoy applying logical and problem-solving thinking to real-world challenges. I’m passionate about the work I do and take pride in being dependable and consistent. Balancing school, volunteering, and leadership has taught me discipline and responsibility. What sets me apart is my commitment to using technical skills to make a meaningful impact.
Shail Sakalabhaktula: I’m Shail Sakalabhaktula, a student at Enloe High School and the Treasurer of Project Med & Ed, where I manage finances and help ensure our resources are used responsibly and effectively. I have completed an internship at ThinkNeuro, working in bibliometrics within the field of neuroscience, which gave me experience analyzing research impact and scientific literature. I have also presented oral defenses, which strengthened my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently. Outside of academics, I swim competitively with TAC, which has taught me discipline, time management, and resilience. Balancing leadership, research, athletics, and school has been demanding but rewarding. What sets me apart is my ability to manage high-level academic and athletic commitments while staying deeply involved in service and leadership.
Ashvath Maheshwaran: I’m Ashvath Maheshwaran, a student at Willow Spring High School and the Director of Outreach and Sponsorships at Project Med & Ed, where I focus on building partnerships and securing support to expand our impact. I’m interested in entrepreneurship and finance, with a specific focus on cybersecurity and logistics, and I actively explore those interests through hands-on work. I run my own volunteer service club at school and have founded multiple startups across areas such as marketing, podcasting, logistics, and supply chain management. I enjoy building systems, identifying gaps, and turning ideas into something functional and scalable. Outside of academics and entrepreneurship, I play basketball, which helps me stay disciplined and balanced. Managing all of this has taught me how to lead, prioritize, and stay committed across multiple responsibilities.
Any big plans?
Looking ahead, my main goal is to make Project Med & Ed more sustainable and expand its reach without losing its core mission. In the near future, we plan to host more in-person medical literacy events focused on practical skills such as CPR, first aid, hygiene, nutrition, and basic mental health coping, especially for children and families in underserved communities. I am also looking forward to strengthening partnerships with local nonprofits, schools, and shelters so our efforts can reach people more consistently rather than as one-time initiatives.
Another priority is improving the quality and accessibility of our educational content. I want to continue developing our medical blogs and resources so they are clearer, more engaging, and easier for people without a medical background to understand. Over time, I hope to introduce workshops, visual guides, and possibly multilingual materials to better serve diverse communities.
On a personal level, I plan to keep growing alongside the project. As I continue my education and move closer to a career in medicine, I want to apply what I learn directly to Project Med & Ed, whether through more advanced health education, mentorship opportunities, or expanded programming. The biggest change I am working toward is transitioning the project from a small student-led initiative into a long-term community resource that can continue making an impact well beyond my time as a student.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://projectmeded.tiiny.site
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-med-ed/
