Program:

Internal Medicine Graduating Class of 2024

Where are you from originally?

Gujarat, India

Medical training:

B. J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, India

When did you come to the U.S.?

I moved from India to Pennsylvania in 2020 after completing medical school training, and from Pennsylvania to Michigan in 2021 to start Internal Medicine residency.

Why did you choose your specialty?

I had explored many specialties while doing rotations in medical school years and working with internists in the USA. Furthermore, I had an opportunity to work with cardiologists in New York. I realized that Internal Medicine balances my clinical interests and will allow me the opportunities to further advance my career, to work on wide spectrum of diseases, and to develop necessary skills through constant learning and patient care.

Family?

My parents, sibling and relatives live in Pennsylvania.

When you're not working, what do you like to do for fun?

Go for a walk in my community and meet new people and their pets. Enjoy long drives with all kinds of music. Hang out with friends and explore the new places. I also enjoy reading books. particularly on astrophysics, medical memoirs and poems.

What inspires you?

Unconditional love from my parents and constant support from my family. Meaningful friendships and guidance from my mentors. Words of authors and poets from past to present. Physicians and patients that I interact with everyday. Lastly, a continuous introspection and quest to find the answers of many curious questions that I have.

What was your toughest challenge in achieving your goals?

Anxiety, overthinking, doubts and fear of uncertainty and unknown. Over the years during my medical school, I realized that every aspect of life - including career - will present with unexpected challenges and results. Being uncomfortable and apprehensive about life is normal, and it should not stop or cripple you from doing what is best, taking right decisions and seeking opportunities. Find your portable comfort zones that you can access anywhere, e.g., stay in touch with parents, family and friends; exercise; volunteer; enjoy books, music, yoga and meditation.

What do you miss most about home?

I miss the food and conversations in my native language. I regularly call my family and friends to stay in touch.

Favorites:

• Book: Gitanjali - a collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore for which he received Nobel Prize for Literature.
• Movies: Christopher Nolan and many other great directors and genres.
• Music: Hans Zimmer, John Williams and many other composers and genres.
• Podcasts and videos: TED Talks, TED Ed and TEDMED.

Favorite quotation:

Per aspera ad astra - a Latin phrase which means, "Through hardships to the stars."

Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.

~Rabindranath Tagore

Favorite way to manage work-life balance:

I go for a walk and talk to friends and family.