My name is Kalsang Choedhan, and I am of Tibetan origin. I consider myself profoundly fortunate to have immigrated to the United States several years ago from a Tibetan refugee settlement in India, where I was born and raised. Despite the many challenges of growing up as a refugee, I had the opportunity to complete high school, earn a degree in Traditional Tibetan Medicine, and practice for several years in India.

I am blessed with a supportive wife and two hardworking daughters. My eldest recently graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Symbolic Systems, and my younger daughter is beginning her undergraduate studies in Animal Science at Oregon State University (OSU) this fall. 

I earned my Certified Nursing Assistant license and while working full-time at Legacy Health, successfully completed the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) degree. Although I once aspired to pursue further education in healthcare earlier in my journey in the U.S., I chose to prioritize my daughters’ education, investing our family’s limited resources to help provide them with greater opportunities to succeed and give back.

Returning to school in the United States after a significant educational gap, and as a non-native English speaker, has not been without its difficulties. However, I remain driven by a strong desire to expand my knowledge of allopathic medicine through a nursing degree, both for the well-being of my family and to better serve my broader community. I was fortunate to be accepted into two nursing programs and ultimately chose Clackamas Community College for its strong reputation and affordability.

My passion for healthcare was ignited at the age of 15, following the tragic loss of my grandparents to strokes. Their passing was made even more devastating by the lack of access to healthcare in our remote settlement then in India, exacerbated by language barriers, scarce resources, and the broader struggles we faced as refugees. That experience planted in me a lasting desire to become part of the solution. 

As a follower of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I found even deeper meaning in a life of service. “In order to lead a meaningful life, you need to cherish others, pay attention to human values, and try to cultivate inner peace.” His quote continues to guide me in my pursuit of a healthcare career centered on compassion, equity, and service. Being trilingual in Tibetan, English, and Hindi enables me to help bridge communication gaps and offer culturally sensitive care to those in need.

I am deeply honored and sincerely grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the Billi Odegaard Scholarship. This generous support extends far beyond financial relief; it has empowered me to pursue my dream without compromising my family’s financial stability. The Billi Odegaard Scholarship Fund is not only helping me earn a degree; it is enabling me to fulfill a purpose rooted in serving underserved and marginalized communities.

In conclusion, I am inspired by the selfless dedication of those who support this Fund. Their unwavering commitment to empowering marginalized communities is a driving force in promoting equity within healthcare education. It is both an honor and a privilege to be part of this mission, one that fosters a more compassionate, inclusive society, and one that I am proud to contribute to through my service and future work in the community.