By Vasumathi Sriganesh | Founder & CEO
A couple of months ago, I traveled to Lucknow to attend a conference. During this time, I was collaborating on a project with a group of doctors. One of them, Dr. Sai, invited me to visit his home when he learned I would be in Lucknow. I gladly accepted and went over.
Dr. Sai and his wife, Dr. Namrata, were warm and welcoming. As we chatted, their ten-year-old daughter returned from her music classes. She was a bright and friendly child who quickly struck up a conversation with me. She shared stories about her school, music lessons, and an upcoming exam she was preparing for.
During our conversation, she noticed a badge I was wearing, pinned just below my shoulder. It read, "Ask me about Evidence-Based Practice and Research." I had picked it up at a Medical Librarians' conference in the USA, created by the Medical Library Association.
Curious, she asked me what it meant. I started by asking if she knew what the word "evidence" meant. She promptly replied, "proof." I smiled and told her she was absolutely right. Then I explained:
“Your parents are doctors, and they prescribe medicines for their patients. But how do they know which medicines to prescribe? Researchers study these medicines by testing them on many patients and recording what works and what doesn’t. Other researchers then gather all these studies and analyze them together. This process helps us understand the ‘evidence’ for a particular treatment. And my job is to teach researchers how to find all the studies on a topic and make sure they don’t miss anything important."
Without hesitation, she said, “That’s the most important part, isn’t it?”
Her quick understanding left me amazed. A ten-year-old grasped in moments, what many adults struggle to appreciate — that there are structured and precise methods for searching and synthesizing research.
This interaction reaffirmed why QMed’s mission is so important. At QMed, we ensure that every researcher and healthcare professional has the tools and training to find reliable evidence. Better research leads to better healthcare, and effective searching is at the heart of it all.
Your support has been crucial in making this possible. It enables us to teach and empower individuals to improve healthcare through evidence-based practices.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this story. Perhaps you’d like to share it with someone who might find it meaningful. And if you’re inspired to contribute further, your generosity will help us continue creating a ripple effect in the world of healthcare and research.
Thank you for being an integral part of this journey.
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