Mindy Shah grew up near the shores of Lake Erie, in Ohio, and spent much of her childhood tramping around the woods and writing stories she seldom finished. After starting a career in creative writing, an experience of being a patient herself led her to change direction; she completed a postbaccalaureate premedical program at Bryn Mawr College and went on to study medicine, ultimately training in internal medicine, geriatrics, and hospice and palliative medicine.
Mindy lives in Wisconsin with her spouse and daughter. She works full time in medicine alongside her work with TGLP.
She wanted to help people feel comfortable and transform the shame around colon issues. "I want to talk about things that matter, the things people don't want to discuss. I want to help them feel okay talking about it."
"Death, in many ways, ignites new life for the ones left behind."
When we met, she was coming off a stretch of nine 14-hour shifts. She was tired but in good spirits.