In 2020, amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, four UCLA undergraduate students came together with a shared conviction: access to healthcare should never depend on circumstance. Each of them were actively involved in their community, volunteering in shelters and free clinics, where they witnessed the many obstacles people face when attempting to access basic medical care.
Out of these experiences, Project Lux was born—a nonprofit built on the belief that knowledge and support can illuminate the path to equitable healthcare. “Lux,” meaning “light,” embodies our mission to shine a light on resources too often hidden from those who need them most.
What began with four students volunteering at shelters and free clinics has since grown into a national network of volunteers, students, and healthcare advocates dedicated to breaking down barriers to care. Through insurance enrollment fairs, health literacy workshops, and partnerships with community organizations, Project Lux equips individuals with the tools to navigate the healthcare system and secure the coverage they deserve.
At its core, Project Lux was founded on a simple but urgent idea: healthcare access should never be left in the dark. By bringing light to underserved communities, we aim to create a future where every person—regardless of background—can confidently access the care they need to thrive.
Shefali Varma
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
Shefali is currently an MS3 at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. As an undergrad, she witnessed multiple individuals struggle to receive basic health care due to lack of medical insurance, with some individuals losing everything because they were unable to get the care they required. Driven to make a change, she started a club on campus and worked with her peers to transform it into a non-profit. Today, she is incredibly proud of the impact we have made and continue to make in our community.
Johan Carrascoza-Bolanos
CO-FOUNDER
Johan is a current MS2 at UC San Diego School of Medicine. When he and his board created Project Lux, they wanted to create something that was sustainable and could have a lasting impact on the lives of their houseless neighbors. He believes in Project Lux’s mission because he believes housing and healthcare go hand in hand towards combatting houselessness. Today, they are proud to see the growth of the organization across various California campuses, each serving the unique and common needs of their city’s houseless populations.
Kareena Garg
CO-FOUNDER
Kareena co-founded Project Lux in 2020 after years of experience volunteering at shelters where she witnessed countless people suffer from untreated, preventable medical conditions simply because they lacked health insurance. Kareena is now an M.D. Candidate at Georgetown University School of Medicine (Class of 2026), where she continues to serve as an advisor for Project Lux Nonprofit and is an active leader for community service initiatives in the Washington D.C. community.
Deepika Pugalenthi Saravanan
CO-FOUNDER
Deepika is a fourth-year medical student at the Penn State College of Medicine with a strong interest in internal medicine and a commitment to serving underserved communities. Her passion for Project Lux stems from her personal experience of losing her great-grandfather to terminal prostate cancer, which was diagnosed late due to limited access to care. Through Project Lux, she hopes the organization is a stepping stone to help bridge the gap in healthcare accessibility by providing underserved populations with access to essential resources and healthcare support.
