Page 14 - 2021 AUC Commencement Program

MADHURA MAHAPATRA, MD ROHAN PATEL, MD

STUDENT SPEAKER STUDENT SPEAKER

A Chicago native, Dr. Madhura Mahapatra earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from During his time at AUC, Dr. Rohan Patel was involved in several initiatives focusing on public health,
Loyola University of Chicago, and enjoyed the culinary melting pot of that city during her spare time. global health, and health disparities. He served as a breast abnormalities researcher, co-President
While at AUC, Dr. Mahapatra served in multiple leadership positions in student-run organizations, of the Global Health Interest Group, and an HIV Screening Coordinator, and was a recipient of the
including roles with the Student Government Association (SGA), Phi Chi Omega Medical Service Social Accountability Scholarship. Dr. Patel’s proudest contribution to the AUC community has been
Fraternity, and her local #HappyPeriod chapter. his research on developing an innovative flipped classroom approach for the Introduction to Clinical
Medicine I (ICM) lecture on cultural competency, drawing on his own experiences as a student of color
Having experienced Hurricane Irma, the transition to Preston, UK and return to Sint Maarten, and navigating health disparities.
the COVID-19 pandemic with her classmates, Dr. Mahapatra is proud of her class for having not only
persevered, but also thrived amidst so many unpredictable situations. She believes that AUC produces As a clinical student, Dr. Patel was on the national executive board for the American Medical Student
physicians who are globally minded, empathetic, and extraordinary, and that the Class of 2021’s success Association (AMSA) and Asian-Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), working on
is a testament to their resilience, as they continue to evolve their training and goals as physicians. Dr. advancing medical students’ exposure to public health and hosting outreach events. Dr. Patel has
Mahapatra will begin her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, always strived to be someone that empowers those around him—by information sharing, amplifying,
Michigan this summer. and uplifting—and looks forward to continuing to do so in his career. Dr. Patel matched into a radiation
oncology residency at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals in Cleveland, and will be
completing his internal medicine internship at the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate in
Brooklyn this summer.