Interview with Riya Patel

Tell us a little bit about yourself (background, interests, etc.) Hi there! My name is Riya Patel. I am an Indian-American high school student from Austin, Texas. I am currently in the International Baccalaureate program, pursuing higher education in medicine. In my free time, I enjoy doing calligraphy, organizing, and writing. Welcome to my interview!
What inspired you to pursue a medical track? When did you know that medicine was your true passion?Throughout my childhood, I was surrounded by healthcare providers, whether they be dermatologists who diagnosed my Morphea, physical and speech therapists who helped my brother with his speech delay, or various physicians my grandparents visit monthly. Ever since then, I have been observing their interactions with their patients and the connections they form, which is something I'd love to do in the future.The first time that I realized medicine was my true passion went something like this:Enter seventh grade science class: long black tables were covered in exam table paper, making it look just like a doctor’s office. My teacher handed me a white doctor’s coat and assigned me a table. I scrolled through my research and observed the patient, taking detailed notes of every symptom. “Fatigue. Eye movements and hand gestures. Unexplained weight gain.” After a few minutes of contemplation, I came to a final diagnosis - Hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease. To confirm this diagnosis, I presented my debriefings to my teacher. She only anticipated me to diagnose the patient with Hyperthyroidism, but the second, Hashimoto’s Disease, was present as well. That day, my meticulousness shined through, combining with my passion for research, biology, and outreach to find a cure for the patient and a new spark of curiosity for me - STEM.
What advice would you give to high school students who are interested in medicine? What can they do to prepare themselves to pursue this career path?Follow your heart, reach out, meet new people, and believe in yourself! If you can dream it, you can definitely achieve it! The medical field has numerous opportunities for you to explore yourself - reach for the ones that captivate you and you will definitely find your passions! For some opportunities, check this out:
1. Volunteering at a HospitalIf you are really invested into going into the medical field, volunteering at a local hospital is a great idea! Many hospitals have teen volunteering programs, so you should try and keep an eye on those types of programs! Opportunities like these will help you acquire more knowledge about the medical field, as you will be able to attain perspective and gain more in-depth insights on the work that the local doctors and nurses do.
1. Summer CampsCheck out local medical summer camps! I was fortunate enough to attend a camp where we were given lessons on how to provide basic care to patients. They taught me how to take vitals, provide first aid, administer food to a patient, take blood, intubate patients, and they even helped me get certified to provide CPR through the American Heart Association! This camp was really helpful as I was able to learn how to perform medical procedures on high-tech mannequins - an opportunity that I would’ve never gotten otherwise.
What improvements would you like to see in the medical field 5 years from now?5 years from now, I would like to see a change in the number of women working in the medical field. According to 2019 data, in the medical profession overall, male doctors still outnumber female doctors, 64 percent to 36 percent. Although we are seeing an increase in female doctors over the years, there is still a lack of diversity in terms of gender, hindering future innovations and discoveries. This inspires me to try to empower the next generation of women to join medicine, allowing me to help end some of these biases.
What is your most valuable experience working in labs and clinical facilities as a high schooler? Due to HIPPA rules and age restrictions, it is very difficult to gain opportunities to shadow in the medical field. However, I have been fortunate enough to be able to shadow both general and pediatric dentists in my area! Although I couldn’t shadow practicing physicians in hospitals, I was still able to obtain first-hand experience and exposure to a healthcare environment, while stepping into the dentists’ shoes, interacting with and observing patients on a direct level!