Insight

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez/LinkedIn

Dec 22, 2024, 06:56

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez: How do you pay tribute to a lifetime of service?

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, CEO of The Max Foundation, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“How do you pay tribute to a lifetime of service?

As I reflect on the decades of work of Viji Venkatesh at The Max Foundation, I find it hard to encapsulate the impact of someone so devoted to the caring and well-being of others in just a few paragraphs.

My dear friend has an unquenchable spirit, sharing joy and laughter with all around her, especially in difficult times when people need it most.

A born educator, she has worked tirelessly to destigmatize cancer, educating tens of thousands about the disease, always seeking to replace ignorance with understanding, and fear with hope.

As someone who joined Max at the beginning of our adventure, Viji has been instrumental in our growth.

She has ably led the region of South Asia, with our largest number of patients, to provide access to medicines, care, and support for the most vulnerable.

Viji will redefine retirement as I know her leaving Max is just the opening of a new chapter. Her life of service will not diminish but simply evolve in new directions through her leadership of Friends of Max and continuing her work on Chai For Cancer.

She is not done helping as she knows there is no greater calling in life than service to others.

I will continue to rely on her wisdom and friendship to support our mission to accelerate health equity by bringing dignity and hope to the patients that no one else is helping.

Thank you Viji! You are a blessing, a joy, and a force for good!”

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez is the CEO and co-founder of The Max Foundation, an organization committed to promoting health equity by enhancing global access to cancer treatment, care, and support. She serves as an advisor to the CML Advocates Network and the International CML Foundation, and is a board member of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations