Fascinated with anatomy and physiology, 4th-year UNC School of Medicine student Shivani Desai understood the significance of becoming a doctor at a young age. From Jersey City, New Jersey, she explains the importance of never ceasing to learn as a physician and the opportunities she loves most about attending medical school at Carolina.
4th-year UNC School of Medicine student Shivani Desai has a passion for clinical research and medical education. She shares more why she loves the third-year clinical campus offerings at UNC and why she’s committed to life-long learning.
Q. What interested you the most in high school and college? Did you always want to be a doctor?
In high school and college, I really enjoyed the health sciences. I volunteered to teach nutrition lessons for a summer camp in Raleigh and became a supplemental instructor for anatomy and physiology. I knew I wanted to be a doctor from a young age. I always found myself to be curious about physiology.
Q. Why did you choose to become a doctor?
I chose to become a physician because I find joy in helping take care of others and felt the most engaged in my science classes. I love problem-solving and a career in medicine allows me to nurture this passion and commit to life-long learning.
Q. What is the most interesting part of medical school at Carolina?
I love the different third-year clinical campus offerings. You can achieve a great learning experience and enjoy the mountains or the beach.
Q. What do you plan to focus on after med school?
I am applying internal medicine with a passion for clinical research and medical education. I hope to continue my research and engage in the med-ed space in residency.
Q. What is your career goal?
I imagine myself in a procedure-intensive specialty with aspects of longitudinal care such as gastroenterology.