Who Am I?

My Story

I am a working mother of two and have practiced as a hospital medicine physician for more than 20 years. Part of this work included being a frontline healthcare provider during the unprecedented time of the COVID pandemic. I took many lessons away from that experience, including how to navigate and lead through a crisis with efficiency and empathy.

My husband, Dr. Rishi Garg, is a well-respected orthopedic sports surgeon in our community. Together, we have raised our two children in the La Cañada Unified School District. My son, Sohan, completed his education in LCUSD and is now a sophomore at UCLA. My daughter, Sahana, is a senior and a multisport athlete who will continue her academic and athletic journey at Bryn Mawr College, where she will play soccer. We are deeply grateful for the support, guidance, and dedication of the exceptional coaches and educators who have helped our children thrive.

My commitment to education began long before medical school. I spent several years working in education. My journey began at Break the Cycle tutoring underserved children at UC Berkeley, then later as a full-time teacher in South Central Los Angeles. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for the work educators do every day. I understand that their commitment does not end when the school day is over; and that teachers and staff need meaningful resources, support, and partnership to thrive.

During our 18 years in La Cañada, our family has developed deep roots and lasting relationships through a strong commitment to our community. I have volunteered in classrooms, supported fundraising efforts, helped community members facing illness or injury, and led the nonprofits supporting both boys' football and girls' flag football. I have also advocated for improvements to our schools and served on the stadium turf advisory committee.

Most recently, I served as the visibility lead for Measure LCF, helping build awareness and support for this critical, long-term source of funding for our schools. I worked tirelessly on this effort because I believe our schools deserve strong, sustainable support.