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Student and Faculty Profiles

Meet Vishal...

Class: 2015
Hometown: Glastonbury, Connecticut
Undergrad: University of Connecticut
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Program: M.D.

Honestly, I couldn’t have picked a better school to support my development as a physician. I strongly believe that a physician should not only be an intellectual with technical expertise, but also a person of integrity and character – a role model in society. Every step of the way, UConn has impressed me with how committed it is to produce such individuals.

I completed my pre-med requirements as a Molecular and Cell Biology major at the University of Connecticut. Outside of the classroom, I volunteered on weekends as an EMT in my hometown and took leadership in many community health programs and the UConn Pre-Medical Society.

When I applied to medical schools, I knew I wanted to take a detour before I started. Growing up in America, I wanted to live and learn in my ancestral country of India. When I was offered the opportunity to attend Tattwajnana Vidyapeeth (‘Institute of Philosophy’ in Sanskrit) in Mumbai, UConn was incredibly supportive and enthusiastic. Traditional Indian education focuses on character-building, rather than career-building. I lived a simple and self-sufficient lifestyle while studying Indian history, comparative philosophy, religion, Sanskrit and English literature, and Hindi. Experiencing such a diverse socio-economic culture was an emotional and invaluable experience that has no doubt already influenced my interactions with patients.

I really shouldn’t be surprised with the support I received. UConn selects such diverse, accomplished and driven individuals. My class itself includes Ph.D. recipients, Teach for America participants, research scholars, and EMTs, just to mention a few. Due to the relatively small class size and camaraderie, we know each other by name, freely share our resources, and will go to great lengths to make sure no one gets left behind. Though it’s a goal of most schools, I doubt many have been able to foster the type of environment we have here.

In terms of academics, you will hear over and over again from the students that the faculty and administration here is exemplary. It’s true. They sincerely care about us. Professors often stay hours beyond their call of duty to hold informal review sessions in the anatomy lab and the classroom. In addition, the broad curriculum incorporates continuous patient interaction through Student Continuity Practice (SCP), problem-based learning through Correlated Medical Problem Solving (CMPS), and strong organized lecture-based learning.

My two-cents? Come visit and see for yourself! From the day I first stepped in as a prospective student, I knew I would be comfortable and happy here. That feeling hasn’t changed, and I’m honored and proud to be a student at the UConn School of Medicine.