Prison Professors

Abstract

In this MasterClass, students will learn from the extraordinary life of Dr. Mona Ghosh, a board-certified OB-GYN who rose from poverty in India to become a physician in the United States—only to face a devastating criminal conviction that led to a 10-year federal prison sentence. Through her story of resilience, loss, and reinvention, Dr. Mona reveals how faith, service, and purpose can survive even the harshest fall. Her lesson challenges all of us to use writing, self-advocacy, and service to build new meaning—no matter what we've been through.

Dr. Mona — From Obedience to Outcry

Dr. Mona Ghosh was born in India into a world where girls were often told to stay small—where ambition was discouraged and opportunity rationed. But Mona’s mother, a schoolteacher, had a different vision for her daughter. She fought for Mona to be educated, even when her own husband refused to support that dream.

Mona earned admission to one of the top dental schools in India, but she didn’t stop there. She always knew she wanted to become a medical doctor. A chance encounter with a patient whose life she couldn’t save without a medical degree pushed her to act. Then fate stepped in: a new medical college opened in her hometown, removing the distance barrier that once kept her from attending. She seized the moment, restarted her education from scratch, and became a physician.

Her sacrifice was immense. Six years of dentistry, followed by six and a half more years of medical training—without shortcuts, without credit transfers. Her father stopped speaking to her. She missed weddings, family events, and opportunities for comfort. But Mona never paused. She had already made peace with hard things.

In 1998, she legally immigrated to the United States, newly married to her longtime partner—a computer engineer. She thought she’d arrive and find her stride. Instead, she found isolation. She became a stay-at-home mother, frustrated and financially dependent, far from the intense 18-hour hospital shifts she was used to in India. Her medical credentials meant nothing here. She started over again.

While pregnant with her second child, she was told she should have an abortion due to a potential diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Her doctors pressured her. But Mona, despite being stripped of her professional title in the U.S., knew better. She demanded a second opinion, pushed for further testing, and rejected the abortion. The results proved her right. That baby girl—her "Christmas angel"—was born healthy on December 25.

The same month, Mona took her U.S. medical licensing exams. She passed against all odds and earned a residency in OBGYN at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, one of the busiest and most difficult teaching hospitals in the country. It was the hospital featured in the TV show ER, and it was exactly where Mona belonged: in the trenches, serving the poor and uninsured, working brutal shifts that often lasted from 5:00 a.m. until midnight.

She became a board-certified OBGYN and practiced from 2008 until 2022. For over a decade, she delivered babies, counseled women, and performed complex procedures—mostly for underserved patients. She supported her husband and children, cared for aging parents, and managed her practice as a solo doctor, often without the tech support or billing systems used by larger hospital groups. Her world ran on paper charts and old-fashioned service.

But the cracks were forming. Insurance companies stopped paying. Blue Cross. United Healthcare. The payments dried up, and she didn't know how to chase them. She was a physician, not a coder or a billing specialist. She prioritized patients over paperwork, and soon she was drowning in debt. Her husband lost his job. She became the sole breadwinner. She was burned out and overwhelmed.

In 2022, Mona was indicted by the federal government for healthcare fraud. She said the case stemmed from billing errors tied to a small number of Medicare patients—many of whom she’d only accepted out of guilt, after watching her own mother suffer and die without insurance. Despite paying more than $75,000 in legal fees, she couldn’t afford a full defense. Her lawyer told her that going to trial could cost another $1–2 million. She had no choice.

So she pled guilty to two counts.

She thought she might receive probation or a short sentence. Her attorney told her as much. But the government had other plans. At her sentencing hearing in 2025, prosecutors brought witnesses to accuse her of unnecessary medical procedures—allegations she had never been formally charged with. The hearing turned into a kind of mini-trial, where new accusations—unsupported by charges—were used to influence the court.

The result: 120 months in federal prison. One month shy of the maximum. A $1.5 million restitution order. And a permanent prohibition from working in medicine.

The woman who built her life around saving others was now cast as a criminal.

And yet—she is not done.

Dr. Mona is now preparing to surrender to federal prison. But she refuses to let the system erase her voice. She’s building a profile on PrisonProfessors.org, where she will publish her biography, begin a journal, and develop a release plan. She wants to become a patient advocate, especially for other women in prison who lack education, access, or medical understanding. She’s already begun helping—one conversation at a time.

She’s also working with her daughter, who once dreamed of becoming a doctor but abandoned that path after her mother’s indictment. Now, they’re rebuilding together—writing, healing, and trying to transform pain into purpose.

Dr. Mona’s story is not about perfection. It’s about persistence. It’s about the price of service, the reality of injustice, and the power of voice. It’s a reminder that credentials won’t protect you, but your commitment to truth, to growth, and to others can lead you back to a life of meaning.

And that’s what this MasterClass is about: not how to avoid falling, but how to rise after the world knocks you down.

Vocabulary Development

Each word below appeared directly or indirectly in Dr. Mona’s story and reflects the emotional, legal, or professional realities many justice-impacted individuals face. When students use these words accurately in their own writing, they demonstrate growth in both vocabulary and self-awareness.

Resilience
Definition: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
Use: Dr. Mona showed extraordinary resilience—restarting her education twice, overcoming cultural barriers, and continuing to serve even after indictment.

Indictment
Definition: A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.
Use: In 2022, Dr. Mona was blindsided by a federal indictment related to billing errors in her medical practice.

Allegation
Definition: A claim or assertion that someone has done something wrong, often without proof.
Use: At her sentencing hearing, new allegations were introduced that were never formally charged in her case.

Restitution
Definition: Compensation ordered by a court to make up for loss or harm caused.
Use: In addition to her 10-year sentence, Mona was ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution.

Pro bono
Definition: Legal work undertaken voluntarily and without payment.
Use: Lacking resources, Mona was unaware she could request pro bono representation instead of paying private lawyers she couldn’t afford.

Burnout
Definition: Physical or emotional exhaustion from prolonged stress or overwork.
Use: Years of being a solo practitioner, caregiver, and sole provider left Mona emotionally burned out.

Advocacy
Definition: Public support or recommendation for a cause or policy.
Use: Mona now aims to pursue healthcare advocacy, helping other women navigate complex systems and advocate for themselves.

Systemic
Definition: Relating to or affecting an entire system, especially a complex one like healthcare or justice.
Use: Mona’s downfall reflected systemic failures in billing, oversight, and access to fair defense.

Credibility
Definition: The quality of being trusted or believed in.
Use: Through journaling and transparency, Mona is rebuilding her credibility one step at a time.

Reinvention
Definition: The process of changing something so much that it appears entirely new.
Use: Stripped of her license, Mona is now focused on reinvention—as a teacher, a writer, and a healthcare advocate.

Students are encouraged to use these words in their Prison Professors profiles, especially in their biographies, journals, and book reports. Demonstrating a strong vocabulary reflects not only educational growth—but readiness to reenter society with poise and clarity.

Self-Directed Reflection Questions

What obstacles from your past shaped who you are today—and how have they prepared you for your future?
Dr. Mona overcame poverty, cultural resistance, and burnout. What have you overcome, and how has it strengthened you?
Have you ever accepted responsibility for something simply because you had no resources to fight back? How did that impact your sense of justice?
Mona accepted a plea when she couldn’t afford a defense. How do financial or systemic limitations affect your choices?
How has your idea of success changed over the years, especially after your conviction or incarceration?
Dr. Mona once defined success as becoming a doctor. Now, she defines it through service and advocacy. How has your definition evolved?
What are you doing today to prepare for the life you want after prison—regardless of your current circumstances?
Even after her sentencing, Dr. Mona is preparing a biography, journal, and release plan. What steps are you taking now?
Have you ever been misunderstood, misrepresented, or silenced? How can you reclaim your voice through writing?
Mona wasn’t allowed to defend herself fully in court. How can your journal or profile help others understand the full story?
What acts of service or contribution have you made in the past—and how can you continue serving others now?
Mona volunteered with charities and set up scholarships. What skills or knowledge do you have that others might benefit from?
What does advocacy mean to you, and how could you advocate for yourself or others more effectively going forward?
Mona wants to become a patient advocate for women in prison. What kind of advocate could you become?
When you experienced loss—whether of career, freedom, or identity—how did you respond? What helped you begin to heal?
Dr. Mona lost her license and her reputation, but chose to build again. What is helping you get back up?
How can your personal history—your family, your struggles, your culture—become a source of strength instead of shame?
Mona draws strength from her mother, her scholarships, and her early teaching. What parts of your past can become fuel for your future?
What legacy do you want to leave, and how can the actions you take today—writing, journaling, helping others—support that legacy?
Mona hopes to leave behind more than her conviction. She’s writing a new story. What story do you want to leave behind?

These questions are tools for transformation. You can respond to them in your journal, build them into your biography, or use them as foundations for book reports and release plans on your profile. The more you write, reflect, and build, the more powerful your narrative becomes.

Book Recommendations for Self-Directed Learning

Each of the books below can become a tool for self-advocacy. Dr. Mona recommended reading as a way toward personal development. We encourage you to write thoughtful book reports and upload them to your Prison Professors profile. Show the world that you are a student of life, ready to lead, contribute, and grow.

📘 1. The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Dr. Edith Eva Eger

Summary:
Dr. Eger, a Holocaust survivor and psychologist, shares her story of surviving unspeakable trauma—and how she transformed that pain into healing and purpose. Her message is clear: we cannot always control what happens to us, but we can choose how we respond.

Connection to Dr. Mona:
Dr. Mona felt helpless as her reputation collapsed and her profession was stripped away. Like Dr. Eger, she now seeks to transform pain into purpose through advocacy and teaching.
Self-Directed Use:
Write a book report focused on the choices you’ve made after trauma. Reflect on how mindset and forgiveness—especially toward yourself—are shaping your transformation.

📘 2. Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach

Summary:
This powerful book combines Eastern mindfulness with Western psychology to teach that true peace begins when we stop resisting reality and start embracing ourselves with compassion.

Connection to Dr. Mona:
Facing an unexpected 10-year sentence, Dr. Mona had to surrender not only to the court, but also to the grief, shame, and loss that followed. Her next chapter began with acceptance.
Self-Directed Use:
A journal-based book report might reflect on what parts of your life you’ve struggled to accept—and how embracing those realities could set you free internally, even before release.

📘 3. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

Summary:
This book explores how the medical profession often struggles to confront mortality, especially with aging patients. It urges a more compassionate, honest approach to care, family, and what truly matters at the end of life.

Connection to Dr. Mona:
The death of her mother—a woman denied care due to lack of insurance—shaped Mona’s mission as a doctor. Her commitment to patient-centered care echoes Gawande’s core message.
Self-Directed Use:
Students can write about how this book shaped their views on dignity, family, aging, or caregiving. It’s especially powerful for anyone who has served as a caretaker or lost a loved one.

📘 4. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Summary:
A young neurosurgeon is diagnosed with terminal cancer and forced to confront the meaning of life, work, and legacy. Kalanithi writes with grace and depth about how he redefined success after everything changed.

Connection to Dr. Mona:
Like Kalanithi, Dr. Mona trained for years to become a physician, only to have her identity—and future—reshaped by forces outside her control. Both chose to live with purpose, even in decline.
Self-Directed Use:
Students can reflect on the theme of reinvention. What does it mean to lose a professional identity? What legacy can you still create, even after a fall?

📘 5. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Summary:
This groundbreaking work explores how trauma imprints itself on the brain and body—and how healing often requires more than logic or willpower. It offers tools for recovery and regulation.

Connection to Dr. Mona:
After her indictment, Dr. Mona experienced anxiety, suicidal ideation, and a sense of collapse. Yet she fought back with writing, volunteering, and therapy—steps that align with this book’s insights.
Self-Directed Use:
Students can write a book report exploring how trauma shaped their behavior and what they’re doing now to recover emotionally. This can be a powerful component in a release plan.

These books offer more than inspiration—they offer blueprints for healing, growth, and advocacy. When you write book reports using these titles, you demonstrate to judges, counselors, and your community that you are not just “doing time.” You are actively preparing to live with purpose.

Straight-A Guide Recap — Lessons from Dr. Mona’s Journey

The Straight-A Guide offers a ten-part roadmap for turning adversity into growth. Dr. Mona’s story—filled with success, collapse, and rebuilding—demonstrates how each principle plays out in the real world. Even professionals, veterans, and community leaders stumble. But it’s what we do next that defines who we become.

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1. Values (Define Success)
Success for Dr. Mona once meant becoming a physician, providing care, and honoring her mother’s legacy. But after losing her license and facing incarceration, she redefined success as something deeper: advocacy, service, and helping others heal.
Reflection: What do you value today? Is your definition of success based on titles—or on purpose?

2. Goals
Dr. Mona’s goals changed with each chapter of her life—from earning medical degrees to raising her children to preparing for prison. Now her goal is to serve as a patient advocate and mentor, especially for incarcerated women.
Reflection: What specific, measurable goals are you working toward right now? Can you write them down?

3. Attitude
Though devastated by her sentence, Mona didn’t give in to despair. She picked up jobs—hostess, caregiver, clerk—after her indictment, and later chose to write, reflect, and serve others. That’s the power of a growth mindset.
Reflection: How has your attitude helped—or hurt—your progress? Are you ready to shift it?

4. Aspiration
Even from inside prison, Mona aspires to teach, mentor, and protect others. Her vision goes beyond her case. She hopes to become a voice for women who are overlooked or misunderstood by the justice system.
Reflection: What legacy do you want to leave behind? What future are you working toward?

5. Action
Dr. Mona isn’t waiting for permission. She’s writing her biography, preparing a release plan, and starting her journal. She’s actively shaping her future—even before she surrenders.
Reflection: What actions are you taking today to build the life you want after prison?

6. Accountability
She acknowledges her mistakes, accepts the consequences, and refuses to blame others. Even though her attorney may have failed her, she is choosing to document her truth and show her integrity.
Reflection: Are you taking full ownership of your actions—and your growth?

7. Awareness
Dr. Mona is learning from every part of her story: how systemic failures and personal blind spots led to her collapse. She now sees how her focus on patient care sometimes came at the expense of documentation or delegation.
Reflection: What patterns have you noticed in your thinking or behavior? How are you adjusting?

8. Authenticity
There’s nothing fake about Mona. She cried during the interview, admitted to suicidal thoughts, and still shared her desire to help others. That kind of vulnerability builds trust—and credibility.
Reflection: Are you being honest in your writing and self-reflection? Or are you still hiding behind a mask?

9. Achievement
Each chapter Mona writes, each lesson she shares, each journal entry she creates—those are real achievements. They form a body of work that can influence how others see her future.
Reflection: What accomplishments have you made since your arrest or incarceration? Write them down.

10. Appreciation
Even amid pain, Mona expresses gratitude—for her daughter’s support, for the patients she served, for the lessons learned from loss. She honors her mother by continuing to teach and give back.
Reflection: Who or what are you thankful for today? How are you showing that appreciation?

Dr. Mona didn’t set out to become a teacher behind bars. But now, she’s becoming one anyway. And you can too.

Apply the Straight-A Guide to your own life. Let it help you rebuild your identity, write your story, and chart a path toward contribution, freedom, and hope. Then share that journey—through your Prison Professors profile, your journal, your book reports, and your actions.

Sample Response

Below is a sample, showing how I would have responded to a typical “reflection prompt” if I were still in prison. Notice that answers are neither right nor wrong. They are an exercise in self-directed learning, helping us develop better critical thinking and writing skills. How would you respond?

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Reflection Prompt Chosen:
“What legacy do you want to leave, and how can the actions you take today—writing, journaling, helping others—support that legacy?”

When I first came into the system, I wasn’t thinking about legacy. I was thinking about survival. I was thinking about what I had lost—my freedom, my reputation, my standing in the world. But over time, I realized that even though I couldn’t change the past, I could still define the meaning of my life going forward.

Dr. Mona’s story reminded me of that.

She lost more than most people will ever understand. After devoting her life to medicine—after sacrificing her youth, her comfort, her time with family—she was sentenced to 10 years in prison. That kind of fall would crush most people. But instead of giving up, she shifted her focus from medicine to mentorship. From delivering babies to delivering wisdom. From being a doctor to being a guide.

That’s the legacy I want too—not to be remembered for what I lost, but for what I gave.

I used to believe that legacy was something you earned by achieving big things—titles, income, success. But now I believe legacy is about impact. It’s about whose life is better because I was here. It’s about what I do with my time, my voice, and my growth.

That’s why I’ve started writing. Journaling isn’t easy for me. Sometimes the words don’t come. Sometimes I don’t want to face the truth of what I’ve done, what I’ve lost, or how long this road is. But every time I write, I take back some of my power. I put structure to my thoughts. I create a record—not just for others, but for myself.

And if I can do that every day—if I can show consistency, depth, and progress—I believe that legacy begins to build.

I’ve also started thinking differently about service. Before prison, I saw helping others as something I did when I had time. Now, I see it as the core of who I want to become. I might not be able to run a business or vote or even hug my family whenever I want—but I can still lift someone up. I can share what I’ve learned. I can help someone prepare for their release, write their first letter, or process their own pain.

That’s what Dr. Mona wants to do—help other women who feel lost in the system. She’s not doing it for applause. She’s doing it because she understands what it’s like to be brilliant, broken, and invisible all at the same time.

I want to leave a legacy like that. A quiet one, maybe—but one that matters.

I’ve started my biography, and I’m working on a release plan too. Not because someone told me to, but because I know that my future depends on what I build right now. Every page I write is a brick in the foundation of that future. Every reflection helps me reconnect with the person I want to become.

I’ve let go of the idea that my legacy has to be perfect. It just has to be honest.

If my kids one day read what I wrote in here, I want them to know that I didn’t give up. I didn’t hide from the truth. I didn’t waste this time. I worked—every single day—to become a man they could be proud of.

And when the Bureau of Prisons, or a judge, or a future employer looks at my profile, I want them to see someone who grew from his mistakes. Someone who built something with limited tools. Someone who took a sentence and turned it into a season of transformation.

That’s the legacy I’m writing now.

Challenge: Build a Profile on Prison Professors

Dr. Mona Ghosh lost her career, her reputation, and her freedom—but she didn’t lose her voice. Even while preparing to serve a 10-year federal prison sentence, she began the process of reclaiming her story.

That’s your challenge now: reclaim your story—and start shaping how others see you.

You cannot change the past, but you can influence the opportunities that may open for you in the future. The profile you build on PrisonProfessors.org is more than a formality—it’s a public statement that says:

“I’m not the same person I was. I’m growing. I’m learning. I’m preparing.”

Your profile is your platform for self-advocacy. It allows you to:

Write your biography – Tell your full story in your own words.
Submit journal entries – Show your daily effort, your reflections, and your commitment to growth.
Upload book reports – Prove that you're studying, learning, and building your mind.
Create a release plan – Show stakeholders that you're planning for reentry with clarity and responsibility.

Each submission becomes evidence. Evidence that you’re doing the work. Evidence that you’re not just serving time—you’re earning trust.

And these profiles don’t just help you. They help us advocate for reforms. When we can show decision-makers how people like you are working hard, documenting change, and living intentionally, we build a stronger case for merit-based pathways to freedom.

That’s how we’re going to change the system—one credible profile at a time.

Here’s how to begin:

👉 Visit PrisonProfessors.org
👉 Ask a family member or friend to help create a profile on your behalf
👉 Start writing: your biography, a journal entry, a book report, or your release plan
👉 Add to it weekly. Build your body of work.

You’ve already survived what tried to break you. Now, it’s time to rise—and be seen.

Start today. Build your profile. Tell your story. Prepare for freedom.

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MasterClass with Dr. Mona