Bela Parekh M.D., graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the Roy and Diana Vagelos Life Sciences & Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2018, studying Biological Basis of Behavior with premed studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and Healthcare Management at Wharton. After graduation, Bela joined McKinsey & Co., distinguishing herself with her work within the healthcare practice, which included advising academic medical centers on digital healthcare innovations, collaborating with medical device-focused private equity companies, and developing strategies for COVID-19 therapeutics with global health foundations. Following a few years in consulting, Bela began medical school at the University of Michigan Medical School, where she maintained academic excellence, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha and with a Dean's Clinical Skills Award, while pursuing her interests in ophthalmology and global health research. During medical school, she was a recipient of the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation Research Award and also helped create an interdisciplinary collaboration between the ophthalmology department and the Ross Business School.
Most recently, Bela's path has led her back to the 'city of brotherly love', where she is starting her ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Hospital / Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. She is particularly passionate about treating genetic ophthalmic conditions in international settings, ultimately aiming to combine her expertise in healthcare strategy, clinical excellence, and global health to improve vision care worldwide.