In a clinic in India, I once watched a young mother wait for hours to be seen, clutching her child and a paper folder filled with years of handwritten notes. There was no digital health record, no streamlined triage system—just patience, resilience, and the unspoken expectation that care would eventually come.

That moment has stayed with me—not because it was unique, but because it was far too common. It reminded me that access to health care isn’t just about systems and logistics; it’s about who gets seen, who gets heard, and who gets left behind.

As someone studying public health, working in clinical spaces, and learning from both traditional medicine and digital innovation, I’ve begun to see the limits of our current approach. So many of the conversations in health care revolve around technology, policy, and infrastructure. But we often overlook something simpler: the need for new perspectives—especially those of young people.

Gen Z is coming of age in a world shaped by health crises. From the mental health impacts of social media to the long tail of COVID-19, we’ve grown up with both unprecedented access to information and a deep awareness of systemic gaps. We’re not afraid to ask hard questions or to reimagine what care could look like. And we’ve learned that solutions can come from lived experience, not just textbooks.

In conversations around mental health, for example, younger people are often the first to speak openly, advocate for peers, and normalize care. In digital health, students are building tools that prioritize user experience and cultural relevance. In public spaces, we’re seeing youth organize community wellness events, lead research projects, and ask why so many are still being left out of the conversation.

This isn’t about being disruptive for the sake of it. It’s about recognizing that the next generation of health care providers, researchers, and advocates brings something essential: empathy rooted in lived experience, curiosity unburdened by tradition, and a desire for care that feels just as human as it does clinical.

Health care systems need evidence-based practice—but they also need humility. They need structure—but also space for change. By inviting young people to the table early, not as future leaders but as current voices, we open up the possibility for a kind of care that is more inclusive, responsive, and compassionate.

We all want to be part of a health care system that listens better, treats more fairly, and sees every person as worthy of dignity. That kind of system can only be built if we let more voices shape it—especially the ones who are just getting started.

Vaishali Jha is a passionate entrepreneur, AI enthusiast, and wellness advocate dedicated to transforming mental health care through innovative, human-centered technology. As the founder of Glomood AI, she leverages artificial intelligence to deliver personalized mental health solutions for young adults, improving accessibility and emotional well-being. Her commitment to equity in health care also led her to establish Caregena, a health equity organization that integrates storytelling, technology, and public health research to address care disparities in underrepresented communities.

Currently a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley, Vaishali is majoring in nutrition and metabolic biology with a minor in global public health. She is deeply invested in blending academic inquiry with entrepreneurial impact, guided by the belief that technology, compassion, and leadership can meaningfully reshape the future of health care.

Vaishali brings a diverse range of experiences to her work. She has served as a medical assistant in both cardiology and OB/GYN clinics, providing her with strong clinical insight. She is also a certified Art of Living Foundation wellness coach and an active mentor within the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SCET), where she helps emerging innovators refine their ideas. Through her involvement in projects like Buildspace and the SCET Innovators in Residence program, she continues to explore the intersections of research, innovation, and health.

Her scientific contributions include research on dementia and breast cancer, with presentations at several academic symposia. With a vision rooted in inclusivity and innovation, Vaishali strives to advance public health, mental wellness, and AI-powered solutions that prioritize empathy and equity.