What do you find most rewarding or enjoyable about the LSM program?
First and foremost, the LSM community is truly unmatched! Each time I walk into the LSM lounge, I’m greeted by familiar faces, and these connections have effortlessly evolved into study groups, project teams, and some of my closest friends. My LSM lineage is also very tight-knit, and we often explore Philadelphia together through various activities. Academically, in a single day I can attend classes ranging from operations management class to molecular and cellular genetics. This interdisciplinary approach to learning, combined with vast opportunities provided by the UPenn Health System, Wharton, Center for Global Health and other research institutes, creates an exceptional environment for learning and personal growth. I frequently reach out to LSM alumni, whose enthusiasm to connect has led to invaluable opportunities both within and outside of Penn. Further, the first-year proseminar, LSM Capstone, Fuller-Fleming lectures, Career Conversations, LSM retreat, and other LSM opportunities provide unparalleled opportunities to deepen my interests and knowledge base in biotechnology, health care, resource-constrained operations management, and more!
What is the favorite thing you’ve done at Penn so far?
While not technically at Penn, my favorite opportunity was the Center for Advanced Study of India Summer Internship Program, placing me at Aravind Eye Care System in Pondicherry, India. I first learned about this opportunity from older LSMers, whose guidance I’ve relied on throughout the summer for project advice, travel tips, and other best practices (shoutout to Celeste and Aravind). My project work has been incredibly rewarding, which involved piloting clinical manpower shifts in the Lasik OT, ensuring quality and comprehensiveness of care in their rural eye care facilities called “Vision Centers,” and streamlining consultations for vitreo-retinal surgery patients. While I have learned volumes about ophthalmology and resource-constrained operations management, my most enriching lessons have been through eye-opening immersion into diverse cultures. Whether sharing biryani from a newspaper with vision center staff, wearing a traditional saree to a South Indian wedding, or dancing to Tamil songs on the way to a rural outreach camp with nurses, each day unfolds as a new adventure and an invaluable opportunity for personal growth and understanding.
What main extracurricular activities do you do at Penn?
On campus, my main involvements are with Locust Bioventures, Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club, Wharton Cohorts and Shelter Health Outreach Program. This coming semester, I am excited to be getting involved with computational research at the Cheng Lab and project work with Penn Medicine’s Center for Global Health. I also dance and choreograph for my dance group, Arts House Dance Company, and am involved in Penn Hillel.