Dr Priyanka Chotai’s journey into healthcare was driven by one question: why should the quality of care depend on where one lives or how much they earn?
A clinical pharmacist, she studied at Rhodes University in South Africa before returning to Kenya convinced that she could make a greater impact at home.
While her early years at MP Shah Hospital exposed her to the clinical side of healthcare, they also revealed a deeper challenge: many patients struggled to access quality care because of cost, geography and systemic inequalities.
“I asked myself, what more can I do? Why am I feeling unsatisfied just being a pharmacist?” she recalls.
"You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be the most impactful."
That question led her to pursue a master’s in International Healthcare Management at the University of Essex and transitioned into healthcare leadership.
As CEO of a hospital, she is focused on strengthening healthcare systems, improving patient experience and building organisations that outlast leaders.
“My leadership starts from the ground up,” she says. “It begins with the front office, procurement officer, the askaris and the cleaners.”
Rather than chasing titles, Dr Chotai measures success by the teams she has empowered, the leaders she has mentored and the organisations she has helped transform. The greatest achievement is creating opportunities for others to thrive, she says.
As one of Kenya’s youngest female hospital CEOs, she has overcome assumptions about age and gender. Instead of trying to prove critics wrong, she focused on preparation, consistency and delivering results. “You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be the most impactful.” Dr Chotai is passionate about mentorship, community development and empowering young professionals, particularly women.
Away from healthcare, she enjoys stage acting, radio hosting and public speaking, using storytelling to inspire.
“Leadership is about creating positive and lasting change by building people and leaving every organisation better than you found it.”
–Ndugu Abisai