Healthcare Entrepreneur Pooja Ika to Keynote Vidyabharati Gala in Boston
BURLINGTON, Mass. — Healthcare innovator and entrepreneur Pooja Ika, founder and CEO of eternalHealth, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Vidyabharati Annual Gala.
The event will take place on Sunday, July 12, at the Burlington Marriott Hotel in Burlington, MA, and is expected to bring together community leaders, educators, philanthropists, business executives, and supporters of educational initiatives focused on underserved communities.
Hosted by New England chapter Vidyabharati USA Foundationm an international nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and promoting long-term socioeconomic mobility, the annual gala serves as both a celebration of educational achievement and a fundraising event supporting programs that increase access to quality education, particularly for girls in India.
This year’s gathering will focus on themes of leadership, equity, innovation, and educational empowerment.
Ika, who founded Massachusetts-based eternalHealth at age 24, has earned recognition as one of the youngest women of color in the United States to establish and lead a licensed health insurance provider. Her company offers Medicare Advantage plans built around transparency, technology-driven services, and affordability.
Organizers said Ika’s professional journey and advocacy for women’s empowerment align closely with Vidyabharati’s mission of expanding educational access and opportunity.
“We are profoundly privileged to host Pooja Ika as our distinguished keynote speaker for this year’s gala,” said Mona Chopra, a member of the executive organizing committee. “Her rapid ascent within a tightly legacy-bound sector is clear validation of what brave, values-driven leadership can execute. Crucially, Pooja’s explicit commitment to aligning her enterprise visibility with the advancement of quality education for girls in India mirrors the exact structural vision of Vidyabharati.”
During her keynote address, Ika is expected to discuss her experience building a healthcare company in a highly regulated industry, overcoming barriers as a young entrepreneur, and the importance of investing in education and leadership opportunities for young women worldwide.
According to organizers, her remarks will also explore the connection between innovation, economic empowerment, and educational access, with a particular focus on improving literacy and learning opportunities for girls in rural and suburban communities across India.
Founded to support educational development and cultural preservation, Vidyabharati works to expand access to quality learning resources and academic programs for underserved students. Through its initiatives, the organization seeks to create pathways for educational achievement, leadership development, and long-term economic mobility.
Ika, a graduate of Babson College, has also become an advocate for increasing diversity in STEM fields, supporting women-led businesses, and advancing initiatives that promote educational and economic opportunities for girls and women.
