Two Indian American women, Padmini Pillai and Nalini Tata, have been appointed to the 2024-2025 class of White House Fellows, a prestigious program designed to cultivate leadership among exceptional individuals from diverse backgrounds. The announcement was made on Thursday, highlighting the selection of 15 talented individuals from across the United States.
Padmini Pillai, hailing from Newton, Massachusetts, is an immunoengineer at the Social Security Administration. She has made significant contributions in the field of immunology, particularly in developing a tumor-selective nanotherapy aimed at treating challenging cancers. Her work at MIT during the COVID-19 pandemic garnered attention from major media outlets such as CNBC and The New York Times, where she discussed vaccination and the pandemic’s disproportionate effects on vulnerable communities. Pillai holds a PhD in immunobiology from Yale University and a BA in biochemistry from Regis College.
Nalini Tata, based in New York, is a neurosurgery resident at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is involved in treating various neurosurgical conditions and has published research focusing on equity in healthcare access. Tata’s academic credentials include a BSc in neurobiology from Brown University, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, an MD from Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, and an MPP in Democracy, Politics, and Institutions from Harvard Kennedy School.
The White House emphasized that this year’s fellows were selected through a rigorous process and represent a diverse array of professions including medicine, academia, non-profits, and government. They will spend the next year working closely with senior White House staff and cabinet secretaries, gaining invaluable experience to enhance their leadership capabilities within their communities.
