Dr. Prajwal Gowda spent many summers as a boy visiting his grandparents in India. He witnessed the challenges they faced in accessing health care, which inspired his decision to pursue medicine. His goal is to provide compassionate care and treat complex medical conditions.

Prajwal Gowda, M.D.

What this award means: I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the Dr. Richard Mays Smith Award, which recognizes my commitment to the field of internal medicine. I have had the privilege of training alongside inspiring peers and supportive faculty who have continually pushed me to grow and excel.

Mentor comment: During medical school, Prajwal’s activities and contributions reflected the qualities of leadership, likelihood to go above and beyond, and altruism. He spent his extracurricular time learning about the social aspects of health through various organizations and on research projects that have produced numerous publications and presentations. – Reeni Abraham, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine

Background and family: I was born in Minneapolis and spent my childhood in Amarillo, Texas, and then Frisco, Texas. My parents are both first-generation immigrants to the U.S. from India. My dad is an agricultural research engineer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and my mom is a lead software tester for a financial services company. My younger brother is an MS2 here at UT Southwestern! I will graduate as the first physician in my extended family. My parents have always been a source of inspiration, exemplifying the values of hard work, dedication to one’s passions, and an unwavering commitment to both family and community.

What led to your career path: Growing up, I was fortunate to spend many summers visiting my grandparents in India. During these visits, I witnessed firsthand the challenges they faced in accessing appropriate medical care and the profound impact that timely or inadequate interventions had on their health. Their experiences sparked my interest in the patient perspective within the health care system and ultimately motivated me to pursue a career in medicine.

College: I majored in biochemistry at UT Austin as part of the Dean’s Scholars Honors program. During my time there, I was actively involved in analytical chemistry research, working under Livia Eberlin, Ph.D., to evaluate the utility of a handheld mass spectrometry-coupled device in analyzing the molecular composition of glial cell tumors and detecting forensic compounds. Beyond research, I was strongly committed to community outreach through the Natural Sciences Council and my honors program, tutoring and mentoring students throughout the Austin Independent School District.

UTSW activities: I served as Executive Director of the Patient Navigator Program and President of the Union Gospel Mission smoking cessation student-run free clinic. I also pursued research, investigating advancements in diagnostic technologies with Avneesh Chhabra, M.D., M.B.A., Professor of Radiology and Orthopaedic Surgery, and examining barriers faced by liver transplant recipients with Sarah Lieber, M.D., Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine. I also took on leadership roles, serving as Test Committee co-Chair through student government, co-founding the Gastroenterology Interest Group, and acting as Curriculum Chair for the Healthy Living Initiative.

Surprising fact: Initially a casual enthusiast, I started playing chess extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic and have worked my way up to being ranked in the top 2% of all active users on chess.com.

Future plans: I am excited to begin my internal medicine training this fall at UCSF. My goal is to then pursue a fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology. I am looking forward to starting this next chapter alongside my partner, Mai, who is a source of unwavering support.

About the award: The Dr. Richard Mays Smith Award is given annually to one or more graduating medical students who excel academically during clinical rotations and exhibit an interest in and compassion for patients.