Search

Growing up in a rural area of Utah, Dr. Christian Carr witnessed firsthand the effects of living in a medically underserved area. Now he wishes to give back to the community and improve the lives of those in need, aspiring to work in complex medical dermatology and pursue health system research.

One of Dr. Amy Xia’s fondest memories is of making ice cream using liquid nitrogen from the lab where her parents worked at Caltech. Surrounded by exposure to science, it seemed inevitable she would follow a similar career path and ended up drawn to medicine. Her chosen field is pediatrics, with a residency starting soon at the University of Washington.

Born in Pakistan, Dr. Syed Kazim Rizvi moved to America with his family in 2002 and witnessed firsthand how inequities can affect one’s health. His curiosity about the human body and ambition led him to medicine, with a particular interest in empowering patients through thoughtful, patient-focused care.

Drawn to both research and patient care, Dr. Nikhil Madhusudhan is pursuing both through UT Southwestern’s Physician Scientist Training Program, which allows him to earn a Ph.D. in addition to a medical degree. His dream job is to become a laboratory investigator and medical oncologist at an academic medical institution such as UTSW, ultimately making important discoveries to advance medicine and science.

Medicine runs in Dr. Lauren Shaffer’s family. Both her parents are physicians, while her three brothers are pursuing careers in science. She found her niche with internal medicine, which balances the scientific and humanistic aspects of health care.

Considering he can solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded, there probably isn’t much Dr. Anthony Dao cannot do. He has been a go-getter from the start, excelling academically and pursuing leadership roles in student and community organizations while also devoting time to research. He wants to pursue a fellowship in cardiothoracic or critical care, eventually practicing at an academic institution.

Dr. Kyle Saysana is in a unique class as a physician in that he speaks five languages and is learning a sixth. Through an international exchange program, he spent an additional year of his medical school training learning about diverse care models at hospitals in three countries. His exceptional dedication to education led to his selection as a recipient of the Hemphill-Gojer Award.

Medicine runs in the family for Dr. Sara Hassan Youssef, whose father completed his residency here at UT Southwestern and inspired her interest in the field. Dr. Youssef’s diverse cultural background played a role in her ability to connect with patients and eventually hone in on the field of family medicine.

Dr. Reshma Narain had an impressive role model growing up: Her maternal grandmother was an internist who headed a large community hospital in Beijing, China. Following in her footsteps, Dr. Narain hopes to provide health care to underserved populations while also working as a clinician-educator.

Dr. Priscilla Tanamal’s interest in medicine and science was clear from an early age. As a kindergartner, she was fascinated with the human body and quickly leaned toward a medical career. When she shadowed physicians during a college break, her aspirations of becoming a doctor crystalized.