Born in a small town in Kerala, South India, Sister Pia had a "natural talent for helping sick people" from a very young age. She joined Medical Mission Sisters just after high school. "While I was in the novitiate, the novice mistress asked me, do you mind going to study medicine?" Sister Pia recalls. "I said, 'I shall try.'"

Sister Pia earned her medical degree in England, and completed her surgery exams in 1969. She was assigned to be associate surgeon of Kurji Holy Family Hospital in Patna, India, from 1970 - 1973. "That was really a very rich experience for me, not only in surgery, but in my religious and spiritual life," she remembers. "I feel like I have left a bit of my heart there still." After a year working at IHM Hospital in Bharananganam, Sister Pia was elected District Superior for South India. After she completed her term in 1979, she was missioned to Ethiopia.

"Once I reached Ethiopia, I knew it was the place for me … I just felt I had nothing but an experience of God's presence," she explains. "I went to Attat Hospital as medical director and general surgeon, and was there for 21 years," she says. "I was the only doctor for some time. It is a 70-bed hospital … the first year I was there, we had 210 major operations. When I left, there were over 1400."

Patients would travel up to 5 days to reach the hospital. "They had such complete trust," Sister Pia recalls. "You have only your own conscience and God to work with … and that is very humbling … there is nobody to consult, so you have to really rely on God."

"We serve a lovable and needy people who call forth from us all we are and all we have … in a mutual sharing of joys and sorrows, achievements and frustrations, surprises and uncertainties," says Sister Pia.