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College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) student Mereena Jolly shares her experience at NYITCOM’s Taste of Nations event.

One of the most meaningful aspects of my medical school experience has been my participation in NYITCOM’s annual Taste of Nations event, hosted by the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). My passion for dancing first solidified as a high school student when I served as a choreographer, teaching 15 to 20 students for an annual international festival held by Susan E. Wagner High School in Staten Island, N.Y.

In college, I joined an intercollegiate Bollywood fusion dance team, which allowed me to compete and perform on multiple college campuses. Ultimately, participating in SNMA’s Taste of Nations became an extension of my long-time passion for dance and allowed me to further celebrate my heritage at NYITCOM.

In 2023, as a first-year medical student, I began participating in SNMA’s Taste of Nations event, representing India through solo dance performances, which blended diverse styles, including Bollywood, Kuthu, and classical Bharatanatyam. I loved incorporating varied music representing multiple Indian languages that I grew up with, namely Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Gujarati, and Punjabi, to highlight the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of India.

Additionally, in 2024, I dedicated my performance to my great-grandfather, P.W. Sebastian, a freedom fighter and friend of Mahatma Gandhi. I honored his contributions to India’s independence movement in the 1930s through a commemorative speech and dance. In 2026, I shared the legacy of my mother’s aunt, Sister Doctor Mary Litty, a Catholic nun and physician who established homes for the disabled and destitute across India and Africa. These tributes transformed my performances into narratives of service, resilience, and cultural pride.

Participating in Taste of Nations has allowed me to weave together many dimensions of my identity, using the arts as a bridge for cultural education and connection. The event brings together a vibrant array of performances, including a cappella by NYITCOM’s Note-o-chords, solo musicians, dance, fashion, and global cuisine, creating a space that celebrates diversity in its many forms. Engaging with hundreds of peers and faculty through these performances has fostered a deeper appreciation for diversity and strengthened our sense of community.

Ultimately, I view the arts and medicine as complementary paths rooted in empathy and human connection. I hope to continue integrating both throughout my career, using dance as a medium to educate, uplift, and unite the communities I serve.