VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Sam Rajan

Real Stories About Real People

Pharmacist Puts Patients’ Health at the Top of His List   

Although Sam Rajan, R.Ph., is a fairly new ADA volunteer, he jumped in with both feet and has been involved with fund raising since early 2007.  He currently serves as Vice Chair of the American Diabetes Association’s Cleveland, Ohio, Leadership Council.  A registered pharmacist, Rajan is Vice President of MemberHealth, LLC’s clinical operations.  He led his team in developing a therapeutic intervention program for their beneficiaries with diabetes, offering outreach programs to doctors and pharmacists as a way to support the ADA guidelines and improve the health of members who have diabetes.

In his role with his company, Rajan feels blessed with the opportunity to enable greater education on this disease.  The involvement with ADA was a natural fit for him. MemberHealth provides pharmacy benefits to both insured and self-insured groups and discount prescription programs.  In addition, it is the fourth-largest Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan in the nation. 

For the second year in a row, Rajan sponsored a Medicare Part D Forum and Charity Golf Outing through his company.  For this year’s Forum, MemberHealth invited its vendors and partners to attend a dinner where former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson spoke on his vision to establish the Medicare prescription drug benefit program.  Having a high-profile speaker who was of interest to their business partners allowed Rajan and his colleagues to raise $81,000 in donations for ADA's mission.  In 2006, they raised $65,000 for ADA.

Jill Pupa, ADA’s Executive Director in Cleveland, Ohio, stated, “Sam and his colleagues wanted to contribute to a good cause that aligned with MemberHealth’s business practices so we responded right away.  That was when I called him and I couldn’t be happier that he chose ADA.” 

He made his artistic debut as a celebrity artist at the 2006 Gala and his painting sold for more than $1,000.  For Rajan, whose grandmother was afflicted with diabetes, promoting prevention and finding a cure is personal to him.  He remarked, “We are honored to partner with Jill Pupa and her staff at the ADA in Cleveland.  We feel they are good stewards of our financial donations, and we look forward to continuing our partnership for years to come.” 

Rajan believes true change occurs with a grassroot effort and that people have to emotionally connect with the cause before they take action.  He learned to step out of his comfort zone to grow.  He says, “I am a pharmacist.  I knew nothing about art, and I was able to create a work of art.  I started with a simple first step of painting the background and I moved to more detail.  As a clinician, I’ve learned that it is important to simplify solutions for patients in order to get better results.” 

Through these fund-raising events, Rajan and his staff have become engaged in a cause that is very important to the customers they serve daily.  As a result, he feels they are doing their part to find a cure for diabetes which affects so many of their beneficiaries.  He is constantly touched when he sees and hears personal stories about the disease.  He knows there is a lot of work to be done and his focus is on improving the health of those afflicted with diabetes. 

When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children.  His goal is to see that his children become good leaders.

Send feedback to volunteerupdates@diabetes.org.