To anyone familiar with her work, it comes at no surprise that Natia Nasrashvili was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Professional Fellows Program (PFP).
From the Ministry of Justice in the Republic of Georgia to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Natia has continued to take great leaps since participating in the fellowship that brought her to the US Congress in 2010.
Serving as a Legislative Fellow for US Congressmen Thomas Petri, the experience redefined her understanding of public service and the importance of constituent relations.
Natia noted that her role in the Congressmen's office managing government-to-people relations is an essential function for a healthy democracy.
Reflecting on the insight she received during her fellowship, Natia says, "I came to appreciate the relationship between the US government and the American people. I was even surprised how openly government 'talks' to the people. I was inspired by the transparency and ease of service delivery. Each day I was impressed with the possibilities, with the openness, and with the belief that we could achieve the same in Georgia."
Natia then developed a completely new concept for her native Georgia: a Public Service Hall for the Ministry of Justice.
This concept combined the 300 most in-demand public services into one location: from passport applications to ID cards to property and business registrations. Georgian citizens are now offered quicker, simplified, and more transparent services. Previously, these services were disjointed, requiring many visits to different public offices.
The Public Service Hall proved a success; Natia and her team even received awards and recognition from the United Nations, the World Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for their endeavors and improvements to Georgian public service.
On the Public Service Hall, Natia says, "I can confidently say that my US experience still influences the way I make decisions and deal with issues. I know this benefits not only the Public Service Hall, but also every Georgian citizen who needs our services."
Apart from the professional knowledge that Natia has applied in her home country, she was also inspired by the volunteerism mentality in the United States. She developed a volunteer work institute, which provides volunteer opportunities for high school students to serve their community.
Natia continues contribute great things to the people of Georgia. Today she serves as Chief of Operations for non-medical services at EVEX Medical Corporation, an organization that owns 38 hospitals throughout Georgia.
But Natia does not plan to stop helping others anytime soon. On her new role, she says, "Our healthcare system is privatized and accessing healthcare is currently not easy for Georgian citizens. I plan to do everything I can to change that."
The Professional Fellows Program is sponsored by the US Department of State. American Councils administers PFP for Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine. PFP affords promising young professionals the opportunity to gain practical experience in, and exposure to, US government, innovation ecosystems, and other topics depending on their professional background.