Dr. Radha Jetty is a distinguished pediatrician, educator, and advocate whose career has been defined by her unwavering commitment to improving the health of Indigenous children in Canada. With an impressive academic background and a wealth of experience in clinical settings, Dr. Jetty has transformed pediatric care in Nunavut and emerged as a national leader in Indigenous child health advocacy. Her contributions span teaching, research, and community service, all while showcasing her artistic talents as a Bharathanatyam dancer and her passion for yoga.
Dr. Radha Jetty’s journey began in Montreal, where she was born into a family that valued education and resilience. Her parents came from a small village in Andhra Pradesh, India, and were from a family of silk weavers who embodied hard work and resourcefulness. Her father, having dreamed of pursuing higher studies, moved to Denmark in 1969 for an aeronautics scholarship after marrying her mother. After five years, they emigrated to Canada, where they instilled in Dr. Jetty a profound appreciation for their cultural heritage and the importance of education.
Growing up, Dr. Jetty thrived in a rich cultural environment. Her parents encouraged her to integrate into Canadian society while remaining connected to their roots. “We had to adapt and embrace both cultures,” she shares. “My parents always emphasized the importance of education and hard work and hence I became bilingual and spoke in French as well.”
From a young age, Dr. Jetty demonstrated an unyielding passion for learning, excelling academically while navigating the challenges of identity and racism. She attended public school and earned the prestigious title of Student of the Year in high school. However, her journey wasn’t without its struggles. Growing up, Dr. Jetty faced racism for wearing a bottu (bindi) on her forehead every day, and was bullied on the school bus and in the playground. “I used to come home crying to my parents,” she recalls. “But they taught me to embrace who I am and be proud of my identity.”
That lesson shaped her deeply, as she explains, “I didn’t wear the bottu because I was conditioned to by my parents—I wore it because it made me feel proud of who I am.” To this day, she carries that sense of pride in her heritage, a value she now passes down to her daughter, who also wears a bottu every day at just three and a half years old.
Alongside her studies, she immersed herself in her cultural heritage, learning Telugu and Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form, from the age of five. “Weekly prayers and family bhajans became cherished rituals in our small household, where we celebrated festivals and poojas, relying on traditional knowledge passed down through generations rather than the ease of online searches. I used to participate in community events and Telugu Ugadi celebrations, including folk dances and theatrical plays,” confides Dr. Jetty.
Her parents were strong advocates for a well-rounded upbringing, encouraging her to embrace sports and engage in Canadian activities like skiing and skating. In addition to sports, she further nurtured her artistic side by studying the veena in Montreal. Her parents brought the instrument from India as a reminder of the cultural treasures for her to cherish throughout her life.
Dr. Jetty academic journey led her to McGill University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Physiology, followed by her medical degree in 2003. She completed her pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in 2007, fuelled by a desire to work with vulnerable populations. Her experiences during medical school, including volunteering in hospitals in India and rotations in Kenya and Uganda, shaped her commitment to health equity.
In 2008, Dr. Jetty became Nunavut’s first full-time pediatrician, where she developed the pediatric program and identified the needs of children with complex medical conditions. “I lobbied the government to create this position because I saw a gap in healthcare for Indigenous children,” she explains. Her work in Nunavut from 2008 to 2012 was groundbreaking, allowing her to provide critical care and advocate for Indigenous children’s rights.
She returned to Ottawa in 2012 to lead the development of CHEO’s Inuit child health program. She joined the Division of Pediatric Medicine at CHEO as an Assistant Professor of pediatrics at the University of Ottawa while continuing part-time work in Nunavut. She established the first specialized Inuit child health clinic where she primarily provided care to Inuit children from Nunavut who had complex medical issues and were often placed in foster care in Ottawa. “Establishing the clinic was essential for bridging the gap in healthcare for these children,” she says. Her research in Indigenous child health and hospital pediatric medicine, along with all the national and international work in Indigenous health, led to her academic promotion to Associate Professor of pediatrics in 2022 with the University of Ottawa.
She is involved with undergraduate and postgraduate Indigenous health medical education while helping to develop the Canadian Pediatric Society’s Indigenous child health curriculum and giving regular lectures to medical students and residents. She is regularly invited to share her knowledge and experience at local, national, and international conferences. She is a pediatrician advisor to the federal government’s Indigenous Services Canada.
During her time as the chair of the Canadian Pediatric Society Committee for First Nations, Inuit and Metis Health, she co-chaired the International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health. She has lobbied for Indigenous children’s rights at federal and international levels. She had the opportunity to bring to light the situation of Indigenous children in Canada at the Inter-American Human Rights Commission in Bogota, Colombia.
Dr. Jetty’s exceptional contributions to healthcare and advocacy have garnered numerous awards and recognitions from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Canadian Pediatric Society. She was bestowed the CBC Ottawa Trailblazer 2020 Award for making a positive impact in the Ottawa community.
Dr. Jetty’s dedication to knowledge mobilization is evident in her extensive research contributions. Her research primarily focuses on pediatric hospital medicine and Indigenous child health, with an emphasis on addressing the unique challenges faced by these populations.
Dr. Jetty is not only a clinician and advocate but also a dedicated educator. She has developed a curriculum and protocols in Inuit and Indigenous child health, ensuring that future healthcare providers are equipped to understand and address the unique needs of Indigenous communities. She has co-developed the national Indigenous Child Health Curriculum, which is now mandatory training for pediatric residents across Canada.
Her leadership roles, both locally and nationally, have positioned her as a key figure in advancing the health of Indigenous children and advocating for equitable healthcare access. Her work continues to inspire and influence healthcare policies, ensuring that Indigenous voices are heard and respected in the medical community.
No success story is without its share of hardships, and Dr. Jetty’s journey was no exception. “Pursuing leadership positions when you’re young and a woman isn’t as easy as it may seem,” she reflects. For her, hard work and consistency were crucial to establishing herself as a leader in the medical field. One of her greatest challenges came while serving the Indigenous community, where building trust proved difficult.
“Even though my roots trace back to a colonized nation, being from an Indian family, I was seen as a privileged Canadian in the eyes of the Indigenous people I served,” she shares. “It was a deep irony, having come from a lineage with its own struggles against colonialism.” Dr. Jetty’s experience highlights the complexities of identity and privilege, a reality she had to navigate with humility while earning the trust of the communities she worked so passionately to help.
Dr. Jetty has been a notable voice in the media, frequently featured for her contributions to healthcare in both Ottawa and Nunavut. In 2020, she was part of a CTV segment discussing how Ottawa doctors adapted to telemedicine amidst Nunavut’s first COVID-19 case. Her role in opening the Aakuluk Clinic also garnered significant attention, including a CTV Morning Live interview in 2019. Dr. Jetty’s work in addressing the specific needs of Inuit patients at CHEO has been covered by major outlets, such as CBC News, Ottawa Citizen, and Radio-Canada. She has also been a part of national conversations on pediatric air ambulance policies and healthcare access in the North, with interviews and articles featured on CTV Montreal and in the Montreal Gazette and Maclean’s Magazine. Her dedication to improving healthcare for Indigenous and Northern communities continues to inspire media attention and public discourse.
Her commitment to community extends beyond her profession. Her time in Nunavut is a testament to her deep commitment to understanding and embracing the local culture. As a member of the Board of Directors of the YWCA in Iqaluit and an emergency foster parent, she dedicated herself to serving the community. Despite being a vegetarian, she respectfully partook in traditional meals offered by elders to build trust and foster connections. Dr. Jetty fully immersed herself in Inuit traditions, studying Inuktitut for four years, learning to throat sing, and driving a snowmobile to work every day. She also travelled across the vast tundra for emergency medical evacuations as well as search and rescue missions, building strong bonds with the elders she met along the way. Her experience exemplifies a true blend of cultural respect, service, and community participation.
In addition to her medical career, Dr. Jetty has maintained her passion for dance and yoga. She requested and was granted a sabbatical to fully immerse herself in the study of Bharathanatyam, training with esteemed dance masters in Chennai, India. During this time, she began choreographing and creating original works, including A Mother’s Plea and Samsara: Rebirth of a Woman. Upon returning to Iqaluit, she shared her love of Indian dance with the community, teaching and performing regularly, even organizing a flash mob at the Iqaluit International Airport. Her performances extended beyond the North, as she continued to share her art with the Ottawa community through annual performances. Her talents were also recognized at the Natyanjali Festival in 2020, where she was one of ten dancers selected from Ontario and Quebec to perform in Montreal. Dr. Jetty has also delivered solo performances at significant cultural events, including the Sivananda Ashram in 2019, Ottawa’s Canada 150 Celebrations in 2017, and Holi on the Hill on Parliament Hill. Her solo appearance at Arts Court in 2016 further demonstrates her commitment to sharing the beauty and intricacies of Indian dance with diverse audiences.
Furthermore, Dr. Jetty’s dedication to spirituality also led her to pursue yoga, completing a one-month intensive teacher training on the banks of the Ganga in Uttarkashi, India. She has since brought this knowledge back to Canada, serving as a children’s yoga instructor in Ottawa for many years, nurturing the next generation’s connection to movement and mindfulness.
As a mother since 2021, Dr. Jetty strives to impart her rich cultural heritage to her daughter. “I want her to embrace both Indian and Canadian cultures, celebrating festivals, learning Telugu, and engaging in outdoor activities like skiing and skating,” she shares. “It’s a blessing to share these experiences with her.”
Dr. Jetty offers a simple yet profoundly powerful piece of advice for aspiring students looking to build their careers in Canada: “Do what you love and love what you do.” She emphasizes the importance of cultivating both passion and hard work in everything you pursue. “Expose yourself to different environments to discover what truly excites you,” she advises. “Ask yourself: Can you work hard toward achieving your goals?”
Reflecting on her life, which has been a balancing act of academics, family, and her deep-rooted passions for dance and yoga, Dr. Jetty highlights the significance of spiritual and artistic practices in shaping a fulfilling life. “These are guiding forces that help you communicate and connect with the people you’ll meet along your journey,” she shares. She also underscores the importance of maintaining balance—physically, mentally, and spiritually—stating that overall wellness is key to leading both a passionate and successful life.
Dr. Radha Jetty’s legacy is one of tireless service, both as a pediatrician and as an advocate for Indigenous communities. From establishing groundbreaking healthcare programs for Inuit children to promoting cultural understanding through dance and yoga, Dr. Jetty’s work has transformed lives and communities. Her influence extends beyond borders and continues to shape national healthcare policies, educational curricula, and public discourse. As a mother, educator, and advocate, Dr. Jetty remains dedicated to ensuring that the next generation embraces both cultural heritage and the power of compassion in all facets of life.
The Dual Legacy of Dr. Radha Jetty in Medicine and Cultural Heritage By Shivangi Goe
Dr. Radha Jetty is a distinguished pediatrician, educator, and advocate whose career has been defined by her unwavering commitment to improving the health of Indigenous children in Canada. With an impressive academic background and a wealth of experience in clinical settings, Dr. Jetty has transformed pediatric care in Nunavut and emerged as a national leader in Indigenous child health advocacy. Her contributions span teaching, research, and community service, all while showcasing her artistic talents as a Bharathanatyam dancer and her passion for yoga.
Dr. Radha Jetty’s journey began in Montreal, where she was born into a family that valued education and resilience. Her parents came from a small village in Andhra Pradesh, India, and were from a family of silk weavers who embodied hard work and resourcefulness. Her father, having dreamed of pursuing higher studies, moved to Denmark in 1969 for an aeronautics scholarship after marrying her mother. After five years, they emigrated to Canada, where they instilled in Dr. Jetty a profound appreciation for their cultural heritage and the importance of education.
Growing up, Dr. Jetty thrived in a rich cultural environment. Her parents encouraged her to integrate into Canadian society while remaining connected to their roots. “We had to adapt and embrace both cultures,” she shares. “My parents always emphasized the importance of education and hard work and hence I became bilingual and spoke in French as well.”
From a young age, Dr. Jetty demonstrated an unyielding passion for learning, excelling academically while navigating the challenges of identity and racism. She attended public school and earned the prestigious title of Student of the Year in high school. However, her journey wasn’t without its struggles. Growing up, Dr. Jetty faced racism for wearing a bottu (bindi) on her forehead every day, and was bullied on the school bus and in the playground. “I used to come home crying to my parents,” she recalls. “But they taught me to embrace who I am and be proud of my identity.”
That lesson shaped her deeply, as she explains, “I didn’t wear the bottu because I was conditioned to by my parents—I wore it because it made me feel proud of who I am.” To this day, she carries that sense of pride in her heritage, a value she now passes down to her daughter, who also wears a bottu every day at just three and a half years old.
Alongside her studies, she immersed herself in her cultural heritage, learning Telugu and Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form, from the age of five. “Weekly prayers and family bhajans became cherished rituals in our small household, where we celebrated festivals and poojas, relying on traditional knowledge passed down through generations rather than the ease of online searches. I used to participate in community events and Telugu Ugadi celebrations, including folk dances and theatrical plays,” confides Dr. Jetty.
Her parents were strong advocates for a well-rounded upbringing, encouraging her to embrace sports and engage in Canadian activities like skiing and skating. In addition to sports, she further nurtured her artistic side by studying the veena in Montreal. Her parents brought the instrument from India as a reminder of the cultural treasures for her to cherish throughout her life.
Dr. Jetty academic journey led her to McGill University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Physiology, followed by her medical degree in 2003. She completed her pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in 2007, fuelled by a desire to work with vulnerable populations. Her experiences during medical school, including volunteering in hospitals in India and rotations in Kenya and Uganda, shaped her commitment to health equity.
In 2008, Dr. Jetty became Nunavut’s first full-time pediatrician, where she developed the pediatric program and identified the needs of children with complex medical conditions. “I lobbied the government to create this position because I saw a gap in healthcare for Indigenous children,” she explains. Her work in Nunavut from 2008 to 2012 was groundbreaking, allowing her to provide critical care and advocate for Indigenous children’s rights.
She returned to Ottawa in 2012 to lead the development of CHEO’s Inuit child health program. She joined the Division of Pediatric Medicine at CHEO as an Assistant Professor of pediatrics at the University of Ottawa while continuing part-time work in Nunavut. She established the first specialized Inuit child health clinic where she primarily provided care to Inuit children from Nunavut who had complex medical issues and were often placed in foster care in Ottawa. “Establishing the clinic was essential for bridging the gap in healthcare for these children,” she says. Her research in Indigenous child health and hospital pediatric medicine, along with all the national and international work in Indigenous health, led to her academic promotion to Associate Professor of pediatrics in 2022 with the University of Ottawa.
She is involved with undergraduate and postgraduate Indigenous health medical education while helping to develop the Canadian Pediatric Society’s Indigenous child health curriculum and giving regular lectures to medical students and residents. She is regularly invited to share her knowledge and experience at local, national, and international conferences. She is a pediatrician advisor to the federal government’s Indigenous Services Canada.
During her time as the chair of the Canadian Pediatric Society Committee for First Nations, Inuit and Metis Health, she co-chaired the International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health. She has lobbied for Indigenous children’s rights at federal and international levels. She had the opportunity to bring to light the situation of Indigenous children in Canada at the Inter-American Human Rights Commission in Bogota, Colombia.
Dr. Jetty’s exceptional contributions to healthcare and advocacy have garnered numerous awards and recognitions from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Canadian Pediatric Society. She was bestowed the CBC Ottawa Trailblazer 2020 Award for making a positive impact in the Ottawa community.
Dr. Jetty’s dedication to knowledge mobilization is evident in her extensive research contributions. Her research primarily focuses on pediatric hospital medicine and Indigenous child health, with an emphasis on addressing the unique challenges faced by these populations.
Dr. Jetty is not only a clinician and advocate but also a dedicated educator. She has developed a curriculum and protocols in Inuit and Indigenous child health, ensuring that future healthcare providers are equipped to understand and address the unique needs of Indigenous communities. She has co-developed the national Indigenous Child Health Curriculum, which is now mandatory training for pediatric residents across Canada.
Her leadership roles, both locally and nationally, have positioned her as a key figure in advancing the health of Indigenous children and advocating for equitable healthcare access. Her work continues to inspire and influence healthcare policies, ensuring that Indigenous voices are heard and respected in the medical community.
No success story is without its share of hardships, and Dr. Jetty’s journey was no exception. “Pursuing leadership positions when you’re young and a woman isn’t as easy as it may seem,” she reflects. For her, hard work and consistency were crucial to establishing herself as a leader in the medical field. One of her greatest challenges came while serving the Indigenous community, where building trust proved difficult.
“Even though my roots trace back to a colonized nation, being from an Indian family, I was seen as a privileged Canadian in the eyes of the Indigenous people I served,” she shares. “It was a deep irony, having come from a lineage with its own struggles against colonialism.” Dr. Jetty’s experience highlights the complexities of identity and privilege, a reality she had to navigate with humility while earning the trust of the communities she worked so passionately to help.
Dr. Jetty has been a notable voice in the media, frequently featured for her contributions to healthcare in both Ottawa and Nunavut. In 2020, she was part of a CTV segment discussing how Ottawa doctors adapted to telemedicine amidst Nunavut’s first COVID-19 case. Her role in opening the Aakuluk Clinic also garnered significant attention, including a CTV Morning Live interview in 2019. Dr. Jetty’s work in addressing the specific needs of Inuit patients at CHEO has been covered by major outlets, such as CBC News, Ottawa Citizen, and Radio-Canada. She has also been a part of national conversations on pediatric air ambulance policies and healthcare access in the North, with interviews and articles featured on CTV Montreal and in the Montreal Gazette and Maclean’s Magazine. Her dedication to improving healthcare for Indigenous and Northern communities continues to inspire media attention and public discourse.
Her commitment to community extends beyond her profession. Her time in Nunavut is a testament to her deep commitment to understanding and embracing the local culture. As a member of the Board of Directors of the YWCA in Iqaluit and an emergency foster parent, she dedicated herself to serving the community. Despite being a vegetarian, she respectfully partook in traditional meals offered by elders to build trust and foster connections. Dr. Jetty fully immersed herself in Inuit traditions, studying Inuktitut for four years, learning to throat sing, and driving a snowmobile to work every day. She also travelled across the vast tundra for emergency medical evacuations as well as search and rescue missions, building strong bonds with the elders she met along the way. Her experience exemplifies a true blend of cultural respect, service, and community participation.
In addition to her medical career, Dr. Jetty has maintained her passion for dance and yoga. She requested and was granted a sabbatical to fully immerse herself in the study of Bharathanatyam, training with esteemed dance masters in Chennai, India. During this time, she began choreographing and creating original works, including A Mother’s Plea and Samsara: Rebirth of a Woman. Upon returning to Iqaluit, she shared her love of Indian dance with the community, teaching and performing regularly, even organizing a flash mob at the Iqaluit International Airport. Her performances extended beyond the North, as she continued to share her art with the Ottawa community through annual performances. Her talents were also recognized at the Natyanjali Festival in 2020, where she was one of ten dancers selected from Ontario and Quebec to perform in Montreal. Dr. Jetty has also delivered solo performances at significant cultural events, including the Sivananda Ashram in 2019, Ottawa’s Canada 150 Celebrations in 2017, and Holi on the Hill on Parliament Hill. Her solo appearance at Arts Court in 2016 further demonstrates her commitment to sharing the beauty and intricacies of Indian dance with diverse audiences.
Furthermore, Dr. Jetty’s dedication to spirituality also led her to pursue yoga, completing a one-month intensive teacher training on the banks of the Ganga in Uttarkashi, India. She has since brought this knowledge back to Canada, serving as a children’s yoga instructor in Ottawa for many years, nurturing the next generation’s connection to movement and mindfulness.
As a mother since 2021, Dr. Jetty strives to impart her rich cultural heritage to her daughter. “I want her to embrace both Indian and Canadian cultures, celebrating festivals, learning Telugu, and engaging in outdoor activities like skiing and skating,” she shares. “It’s a blessing to share these experiences with her.”
Dr. Jetty offers a simple yet profoundly powerful piece of advice for aspiring students looking to build their careers in Canada: “Do what you love and love what you do.” She emphasizes the importance of cultivating both passion and hard work in everything you pursue. “Expose yourself to different environments to discover what truly excites you,” she advises. “Ask yourself: Can you work hard toward achieving your goals?”
Reflecting on her life, which has been a balancing act of academics, family, and her deep-rooted passions for dance and yoga, Dr. Jetty highlights the significance of spiritual and artistic practices in shaping a fulfilling life. “These are guiding forces that help you communicate and connect with the people you’ll meet along your journey,” she shares. She also underscores the importance of maintaining balance—physically, mentally, and spiritually—stating that overall wellness is key to leading both a passionate and successful life.
Dr. Radha Jetty’s legacy is one of tireless service, both as a pediatrician and as an advocate for Indigenous communities. From establishing groundbreaking healthcare programs for Inuit children to promoting cultural understanding through dance and yoga, Dr. Jetty’s work has transformed lives and communities. Her influence extends beyond borders and continues to shape national healthcare policies, educational curricula, and public discourse. As a mother, educator, and advocate, Dr. Jetty remains dedicated to ensuring that the next generation embraces both cultural heritage and the power of compassion in all facets of life.
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