What is your hometown?
I was born in India. I spent most of my early adult life in Hyderabad – a city in the south central part of India, and I consider it home.
Where did you attend medical school?
I attended medical school (M.B.B.S) at Osmania Medical College, Dr NTR University of Health Sciences, Hyderabad, India.
What other educational credentials do you have?
I have a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree in Quantitative methods (Biostatistics and Epidemiology) from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA.
What are your particular clinical interests?
I am interested in maternal and child health, mental health, and critical care especially in the context of improving health of underserved, immigrant, and vulnerable patient populations in the community. I also love to conduct structured data analysis and clinical research to drive positive health outcomes and contribute to the evidence-based practices in preventive medicine, population health, and primary care. Additionally, I am passionate about teaching and developing effective learning strategies in medical education.
Why did you choose Family Medicine?
Family Medicine training will give me a set of versatile skills to be competent in a wide range of health and disease conditions, and a chance to learn about patients from diverse age groups, social, cultural, and behavioral backgrounds and in turn, their effects on health. Family Medicine is immensely satisfying as it ensures meaningful doctor-patient relationships and person-centric patient care. This also creates an opportunity to get to know patients as human beings, relate with them, follow them long-term to enable better health for them and their loved ones. I believe that effective and efficient family practice can reduce the health care burden significantly in hospital systems and drive consequential health policy changes for the community and the country.
Why did you choose the Little Rock Family Medicine residency program?
The UAMS Little Rock Family Medicine residency program is an amazing place to be for multiple reasons. Being a part of a huge academic institution, the program has the resources to conduct clinical research. UAMS attracts patients from all over Arkansas and the neighboring states, which is beneficial to get trained in a wide range of disease etiologies and treatment plans. Most importantly, the people at the Little Rock Family Medicine program are incredibly kind and supportive, and they genuinely care about fostering excellence in their residents to mold them into able physicians.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of medicine?
I am a certified yoga teacher (RYT 200), and I practice yoga and mindfulness regularly. I am a Carnatic classical vocalist and an Andhra Natyam dancer. I spend my free time practicing music and producing independent albums. I love traveling in nature and doing creative arts and craft work. Whenever I have a chance, I volunteer at local schools and non-profits to teach, organize events, and build meaningful friendships.