Growing up in picturesque Coorg, a remote part of India, Malavika Bachettira did not have to look far to find her role model and the building blocks for her calling. Her mother, a school teacher, while efficiently managing home and hearth also had a thriving career. More importantly, she observed the fulfillment her mother felt working with children.
Malavika moved to the US in December 2003 with her husband and worked in various roles as she sought her calling. After a few years, she made a choice to raise her own kids. As her boys became more independent, she once again found herself at a crossroads … what next? During her search, she stumbled upon the Child Life profession and called Cincinnati Children’s to find out more. She was connected to Lynn Sanner (a former Child Life Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s) who suggested that she try it on for fit by volunteering first.
As a Child Life volunteer at Cincinnati Children’s Liberty campus back in 2015, Malavika fell in love with the vocation and decided to pursue it. She says, “The approach to family-centered care resonated with me and I felt privileged to be trusted by the patient and family during their difficult time.” She went back to school at NKU and did her practicum and internship at Cincinnati Children’s before being offered a role.
According to Malavika, “I’ve had the opportunity to work with amazing care teams across departments and locations at Cincinnati Children’s. This has allowed me to observe and learn several techniques that CLS staff employ in a multitude of care settings, addressing diverse patient and family needs.” Malavika feels that this diversity of experiences assists tremendously in her role as Child Life Specialist supporting Liberty Radiology. She adds, “I work with a tremendous team that is very much like a family. The culture is one of service and raising people up and I feel very invested in the collective impact we have on the experiences we deliver for patients and families.”
Contributed by Malavika Bachettira and edited by Glenn Miñano, BFA.
