What would make a dental surgeon trade her tools and cross continents to pursue a new dream? For Jyothsna Allu, the answer lay in the slow, frustrating delays and technological deficiency she witnessed in a hospital back home in Southern India, and a deep desire to create change. Now, with three prestigious scholarships earned in her second graduate year at Grand Valley State University’s College of Computing, Jyothsna’s journey is a compelling story of passion, hard work and transformation.

Jyothsna began her professional journey at the Siddhartha Institute of Dental Sciences in Southern India, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Surgery and completed a clinical internship. “I loved my clinical work and didn’t want to leave my country at first,” she said. However, while working in a hospital, she observed how inefficient systems and processes delayed critical procedures, often to the detriment of patients. “It didn’t sit right with me. The world is moving forward, but the technology in my community was lagging behind. I wanted to learn how to use technology to help.”

This realization, combined with encouragement from friends studying at GVSU, led Jyothsna to apply to the Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (HIB) program. Drawn by the university’s supportive faculty and robust curriculum, she embraced this new path with determination. Her bold decision quickly bore fruit. In March 2025, she was awarded the International Student Scholarship from the Padnos International Center, after she submitted an essay that reflected on how GVSU had broadened her perspective both personally and academically.

Not long after, Jyothsna won the Make Your Mark Scholarship, a competition for international students that required a three-minute video on personal inspiration. “I borrowed a camera from the library and chose to highlight my biggest heroes – my parents,” she shared. Her third accolade, the HIMSS Scholarship, is a statewide award for HIB students that requires a professional essay on how healthcare IT empowers patients. Jyothsna’s essay told the story of a patient back home who suffered due to missing health records because the facility lacked the resources to store digital records, an experience that fueled her passion for digital health solutions. “With smartwatches and digital records, people can finally take their health seriously,” she stated.

Behind these achievements is a strong community of mentors who believed in her potential. “Dr. Sawesi encouraged me to apply for the scholarships and reminded me not to be afraid to ask for help, that changed everything,” Jyothsna said. She also credits Professor Holli Reyes, Professor Anirudh Chowdhary and Erin Woirol from the College of Computing and Padnos College of Engineering for their support and guidance.

For Jyothsna, these scholarships represent more than just financial aid, they are proof that stepping outside one’s comfort zone can lead to incredible opportunities. “It’s proof that if you try something new, it can work. I’m more confident now and ready to embrace challenges. My parents are very proud,” she stated.

As a HIMSS scholar, Jyothsna now participates in industry meetings and mentorship programs, preparing for a career as a Health Informatics Analyst. Her ambitions extend far beyond her own success. She aspires to return to rural India to establish a non-profit that empowers women to pursue careers in STEM and use technology to bridge the healthcare gaps she witnessed firsthand.

At GVSU’s College of Computing, students like Jyothsna are not only reimagining their futures, they are making an impact in their communities.