Our Story
How SEVA
came to be
SEVA Medicine Collective was born from an unexpected encounter — a leadership retreat in Peru, a remarkable translator named James, and the realization that one act of service could become something much larger.
A retreat that changed everything
Dr. Kat and Dr. Dan traveled to Peru for Warrior X, a leadership retreat. Their translator was James — a remarkable man with an extraordinary story of resilience, purpose, and interrupted dreams.
Dr. Rolling & TPAIDA
Dr. Lane Rolling founded TPAIDA, a Peruvian nonprofit that brought American students to Peru for service experiences while reinvesting deeply in Peruvian healthcare. He taught at a local university medical school, supported hospital training, and gave back to Amazon jungle clinics. James was a critical part of TPAIDA, and Dr. Rolling's plan was always to leave it to him — making James not just a student, but the future steward of that mission.
A medical student who had to stop
James ranked 5th out of 300 applicants, survived COVID after two months on a ventilator, and returned to his studies. Then in 2023, Dr. Rolling passed away unexpectedly. James lost his father figure, his sponsor, and his path forward all at once. He has not been back to medical school since.
More than a scholarship
By caring for Dr. Rolling's legacy and ensuring James becomes a doctor, SEVA gains access to the platform TPAIDA already built — the hospital relationships, the jungle clinics, the community trust built over 20 years. This is not just about a scholarship. James is the key to expanding healthcare in Peru using infrastructure that already exists and already works.