Alumni Update: Where are they now?
Name: Swamini Wakkar-Bajpai
Degree(s) Received: MS in Gerontology
Year of Graduation: 2006
Job title: Program Manager
Company: On Lok
Location (city and state): San Francisco, CA
Please briefly describe your position and your company:
On Lok, a group of not-for-profit organizations, provides quality and affordable services for the well-being of San Francisco's elderly and their caregivers.
On Lok has a total of eight centers operating in San Francisco and Fremont. They are currently opening a new center in Mission district and I have been appointed as the Program Manager of the New center.
Why did you choose to study gerontology at the USC Davis School?
Before coming to the United States, I was a practicing physician in India. During the course of my experience there, I increasingly became interested in elder care. This ‘multidisciplinary’ field requires team effort and Medical treatment is as as crucial as is the proper social service support structure.
I continually talked with my patients on how to prevent the disease from occurring and once treated in the hospital, how to maintain a good health and achieved a lot of satisfaction. That is how I began a search for an area that would give me adequate training in these areas and Gerontology was the “gold mine” I dug out! Leonard Davis School of Gerontolgy is well-known as the best gerontology school in the USA and was obviously my number one choice. I am very thankful to the school to have chosen me to receive quality education and network and learn from the best professors in the field!
How did you learn about your current position? Was it through an internship, a previous job, or a connection through USC?
I learned about this position through my past internship experience and I have Dr. Kate Wilber to owe credit to! She is our internship advisor and I continually expressed my interest in working with the PACE program. She made it possible through her networks to help me go to San Francisco over the summer and do an internship with On Lok. The PACE model of care began as a replication of the model of care developed by On Lok and I am very fortunate to have had an opportunity to intern with the “movers and shakers” in the field.
Please briefly describe how the USC Davis School’s curriculum helped prepare you for your current position.
I would want to mention upfront that USC Davis School small class strength gave a lot of one-on-one time with our professors. We were able to discuss our issues and problems with them and brainstorm on innovative topics to write our papers on. The courses are well-structured and are taught by professors with lot of experience both in teaching and in the practical world. We benefited a lot out of discussions with the “experts” in the field, who were brought in the classroom to discuss the ongoing topics and answer student queries about the real world outside!
The school has also a very active Student gerontology association. I had the privilege of being the Vice president and one of the column writers in our newsletter. The professors and the students get together annually to suggest new courses and the school is more than ready to accommodate our requests.
What advice would you offer to a prospective student interested in studying gerontology at USC?
I would say to them, “This is the best decision you have ever made and the opportunities you will get to shine are numerous!” USC Davis school is a place where people from numerous backgrounds come to learn what they are most passionate about. The School encourages you to use your skills, be innovative and creative in application of your ideas to current issues and also gives you adequate training in the various aspects of elder care.
Their scholarship foundations allow students from all parts of the world to realize their dreams and not let the money be a hurdle. The sponsors are wonderful people and their kindness and compassion towards the students is very inspirational and motivating.
As they say, ‘Once a Trojan, Always a Trojan.’ No one will ever regret being a part of the wonderful experience at Davis School of Gerontology!
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