In this episode, Monique sits with Dr. Annu Goel, whose life and medical career have been shaped by a deep commitment to service and community. Alongside her husband, Dr. Goel began practicing medicine in underserved communities at a Navajo reservation and in several countries abroad. The returned to the US to start a family, but returned to international practice after their first child was born. Together they worked on the reservation and in Lesotho, Ethiopia, and Vietnam, building meaningful community with the people they served.

Just as her husband accepted what seemed like the perfect role with the CDC while they were still living overseas, they learned he had a brain tumor. After his passing, Dr. Goel continues to practice pediatric medicine and raise her children, grounded in gratitude for the communities she serves and the shared humanity that sustains her. This episode reflects on grief, calling, and the strength found in community when life unfolds differently than planned.