By Jan Mitchell
The last time OutClique interviewed Dr. Kal Gajraj was in July of 2020, shortly after he became Executive Director of The Peter London Dance Company, and the pandemic shuttered businesses, challenging arts and entertainment to find a new way to engage patrons by presenting performances online.
During that time, Dr. Gajraj also taught classes at Miami Dade College while beginning his doctorate at St. Thomas University in Miami. In July of this year, Gajraj defended his dissertation on the adoption of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in multigenerational workplaces and earned his PhD in Philosophy and Ethical Leadership.
“Not only am I a DEI champion in my personal life, but there are a few times in your life when you can combine your passions with all different areas of your life. I feel like all of my stars have aligned because I’ve also been able to incorporate that in my education, now that I have my doctorate degree, and now in my profession as well,” expressed Dr. Gajraj.
“For me, it’s really about giving a voice to the voiceless, being able to speak up for marginalized communities, no matter their color, sex, or religion. For me, being gay, a first-generation American, and Muslim, I check several boxes myself. That I’m able to live that experience and be an inspiration to others is extremely important.”
Dr. Gajraj’s family, who emigrated from Guyana to the U.S. in the ’70s, has been his greatest source of inspiration, motivating him to pursue his dreams and reach new heights. Their unwavering support and values fueled his determination to succeed.
Gajraj reflects, “From a young age, my mom instilled the importance of a quality education, making the most of academics, and attending school every day. My dad started a business from nothing and built one of the largest shipping companies in the Caribbean for import and export. Because of his perseverance and remarkable achievement, I gained a great deal of knowledge regarding work ethics and business. Additionally, as my grandparents’ first-born grandchild, they frequently discussed the American Dream. I was their American Dream, and although they have passed, having completed my PhD, I really wish they were here to see that, because I feel like that was a huge part of me, and I’m proud to be that American Dream for them.”
Recently, Dr. Gajraj was appointed Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer at CAN Community Health. As a marketing and communications leader with more than 20 years of experience encompassing healthcare, education, entertainment, and retail, Dr. Gajraj will lead CAN Community Health’s marketing and communications strategy to support national initiatives, brand development, and public engagement to serve humanity as the leading resource for education, prevention, and quality care.
“I’m excited to join CAN Community Health because their whole mission is about creating an inclusive environment that treats all individuals with respect and dignity regardless of their health issues,” comments Dr. Gajraj.
CAN started as the Community AIDS Network and has grown from just prevention for HIV and AIDS to prevention for epidemics across the board. Dr. Gajraj notes, “I really focus on the education part; the knowledge and awareness to not only break down the barriers and shatter stereotypes, but also to create a united front against this stigma.”
Gajraj adds, “There’s a lot of advocacy work, collaboration, and innovation, and we strive to do that with all of our clinics and the healthcare we provide. Being able to work for an organization that believes in acceptance, understanding, and overall unwavering support is so important for those affected by any infectious disease. I’m proud of the work we do that helps people live a much longer and healthier life.”
“It’s about us providing inclusive care to the community overall. It’s not only about creating unity behind the advocacy work that we do but also about access to the right healthcare. Healthcare is super important in this day and age, and at whatever age you are, whatever socioeconomic level you’re in, everyone should have access to some type of healthcare.”
CAN Community Health provides a plethora of services to their patients, including comprehensive care, medical care, dental services, counseling, therapy, case management, education, peer support, and pharmacy. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, CAN Community Health operates 40 clinics across Arizona, Florida, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia.
