🚀FIA Spotlight: Dr. Shawna Pandya – The Limitless Explorer

If there is one person who proves the sky is not the limit, it’s Shawna Pandya, MD An Indian-origin Canadian physician and scientist-astronaut, Dr. Pandya is currently preparing for a ground-breaking mission in 2026. She is set to lead the IIAS-02 space medicine research mission aboard Virgin Galactic’s Delta class spacecraft. As the Director of the Space Medicine Group for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS), her work is at the absolute forefront of human spaceflight, focusing on how we can survive and thrive in the extreme environment of suborbital space.

Dr. Pandya’s journey is a masterclass in curiosity and "sticktoitiveness." Inspired by Dr. Roberta Bondar, she didn't just study engineering or medicine; she mastered both, alongside being a competitive martial artist and a deep-sea aquanaut. For the members of FIA, she serves as a powerful reminder that the future of aerospace isn't just about the rockets it’s about the people inside them and the medical innovation required to keep them safe. She has famously said, "You can be the first, but make sure you aren’t the last," a mission that perfectly aligns with our goal of democratizing aerospace for every student.