Vaccine Fellowship Helps Family Physician Follow Her Passion

Q&A With 2023 Vaccine Science Fellow Neha Chande, M.D., M.H.S.

Aug. 31, 2023, Michael Devitt — Sometimes, things just have a way of working out. For Neha Chande, M.D., M.H.S., a health sciences assistant clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, a Google search she conducted shortly after completing residency led her to become one of the AAFP’s 2023 Vaccine Science Fellows.

“I was looking for vaccinology-related training programs and certifications,” she said. “I’ve always been interested in infectious disease and preventive medicine, and basically vaccines fit that bill on both sides.

“The timing just wasn’t right at that point,” she continued. “And this past year, I was really determined to apply for it … and it just fits perfectly with my interests. I was really excited that through the American Academy of Family Physicians, I could actually do the things that I’m so interested in and passionate about.”

Chande expanded on her interests, including the following highlights, in this video interview with AAFP News:

• On her experiences in the fellowship: “I went virtually to my first (CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) meeting, where I was able to see discussions on how approving new vaccines into the vaccine schedule is conducted. That was so fascinating, and it was great to hear how passionate people are about this. I wish the public knew more about how conscientious the physicians and scientists are about these decisions, so that’s been incredible to see up close …. It’s been exciting and amazing that all of the things I wanted to learn are in this one place in this one opportunity for me. I’m really enjoying it so far. It’s been amazing.”
• On her fellowship self-study project: “Some of the areas I’m looking into are learning more about vaccine hesitancy from patients, parents and family, and how we can help use that and improve vaccine uptake. I’m also interested in vaccinations during pregnancy and, in general, how we can improve education around vaccines to the public and to residents and students.”
• On addressing vaccine hesitancy: “The main goal that we all share is to keep ourselves and our children and families healthy. Somebody who’s hesitant about vaccines isn’t doing anything wrong … They’re trying to do their best to protect themselves and their families. I think that approaching it that way, with a common goal … is a good way to start… If patients are still unsure, I just try and tell them that we’ll talk about this next time and to just think about it … I’ll bring up personal experiences and say, ‘This is the same vaccine I’ve already received. This is the same vaccine I have been bugging my parents to get and made sure that they got as well. I’m not giving you or your child or your parents anything that I wouldn’t give to my own family members.’ I just try to approach it that way with compassion.”
• On how the fellowship makes her a better family physician: “One of the best things about doing this fellowship and studying vaccines is … it’s the nexus of where public health and family medicine come together. Those are both areas of interest and passions of mine, and I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to get all of these resources in one concentrated setting.”

The AAFP Vaccine Science Fellowship is funded by an unrestricted grant from Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. The current fellowship runs through April 2024; additional information, including a listing of previous fellows, is available on the fellowship webpage.