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Dr. Sastry used her entrepreneurial
vision in a different way. She was
attracted to Florida by her husband Dr.
Saluting Top Doctor and Ravi Rao, who is also a physician, to an
Entrepreneur, Vatsala Sastry area just north of Tampa that had three
counties, several hospitals and lots of
by Jeri Dayle citizens over 60, but not a single
Infectious Disease specialty doctor!
Setting up a private practice there,
offering the kind of antibiotic infusions
that were greatly needed, and building
relationships with other physicians
who needed consults, was
groundbreaking--both literally and
figuratively.
That is because in Florida, Dr. Sastry
struck up a partnership with regional
contractor Brian Douglas, who is a
similar high achiever and admirer of
beauty. He built brilliant doctor’s
offices, infusion centers, and military
headquarters, as well as prestigious
homes across Hernando County.
Dr. Sastry came to the US in 1965, when
she was just five years old (her father
had come over a few years ahead of the
family.) Even at her tender age, she
noticed how living in a tropical country
like India affected people’s health. Food
Vatsala Sastry is an Outstanding When it comes to eradicating and water supplies (especially years
Doctor and that is why she was infectious disease, she will not back) were not the greatest and
chosen for this special honor. It’s minimize therapy or make infectious diseases were prevalent.
not because she is the epitome of diagnoses strictly by insurance Relatives were dying and little Vatsala
the American dream: an immigrant company codes. She respects always questioned why. Often the
who came here seeking the right to people and prizes human life, and
a quality education, a healthier believes it is an honor and a answer was “the germs.” Her parents
environment and endless privilege to help. raised her to be cautious, to avoid
opportunity, and worked hard to exposures outside, to prepare the food
achieve them all. It is not because just so, to be very careful about
she devotes professional services Dr. Sastry earned her undergrad washing her hands. Prevention was
to support the Marine Corps, degree from the University of critical, and as she grew up and studied
senior citizens and all the people Tulsa, her Internal Medicine more, she learned all about the
who served our country so well. It degree at Rush Presbyterian microbiome, antibiotics, and
is not even because she received Hospital and her Infectious vaccinations. In India, Dr. Sastry says,
numerous awards in her career Disease credentials from there are government run hospitals that
presents cases to the American University of Pennsylvania. The offer free vaccines, weekend
Board of Surgeons. The real reason focus of the program at the community treatment clinics, and
she is the best doctor, is because University of Pennsylvania was DOT--the concept of Directly
Dr. Sastry has stayed true to the leadership and while some in her Observed Therapy. This all helped to
Hippocratic Oath; she wants to program went on to launch improve statistics on polio, rheumatic
help people return to a full and studies for the NIH or become fever, smallpox, and streptococcal
happy life and doesn’t let anything professors,
stand in the way of achieving that. illness--among other threats.
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