The word “doctor” comes from “docere,” the Latin for “to teach.”

I have always loved teaching. Something about the process of learning complex topics, distilling them down to the basics, and being able to educate others is a source of joy in my life. I learn things to teach my patients, trainees, and colleagues. Whether that’s distributing notes, instilling procedural skills, drawing diagrams, or just providing advice about things that worked for me and mistakes I’ve made, academic medicine has been my refuge. I hope this passion for educating others fuels my study habits, appreciation for other disciplines in healthcare, and overall improvement as a physician every day.

Social media outlets like this blog allow me to use technology to spread my love of free, open-access medical education (FOAMed). As a physician, I want to provide advice and reassure those on similar journeys while also curating and creating informative content for the general public and trainees in healthcare.

I bid Boston farewell and moved back to Houston on July 19, 2019 and began my career at UTHealth – McGovern Medical School as a full-time assistant professor of anesthesiology on October 1, 2019. The original plan was to do a year of cardiothoracic anesthesiology and then divide my time between the OR and attending in the ICU; however, COVID-19 had other plans.

By summer 2020, roughly half my clinical time went to rounding in COVID-19 ICUs around Houston due to significant staffing shortages. I dabbled a bit in our transplant ICU too, but finally landed home as an attending in cardiovascular ICU in September 2021.

On July 1, 2017, I moved to Boston, Massachusetts to begin my dual fellowship in critical care medicine and adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School.

• July 10, 2017: Started ICU fellowship
• July 28, 2017: Took ABA Advanced Exam
• March 5, 2018: Traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina to take the American Board of Anesthesiology’s Applied Exam consisting of the standard oral examination (SOE) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).

• July 9, 2018: Started adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship
• October 13, 2018: Took the critical care medicine written board exam
• January 15, 2019: Took the first ever administration of the National Board of Echocardiography’s Examination of Special Competence in Critical Care Echocardiography (CCEeXAM)
• July 8, 2019: Completed my adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship. Awarded Fellow Of The Year 2018-2019.
• July 15, 2019: Took the National Board of Echocardiography’s Examination of Special Competence in Advanced Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (PTEeXAM)

I was humbled to stay in the Texas Medical Center for my categorical anesthesiology residency training at Baylor College of Medicine. Over four years, I rotated through Ben Taub Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, Texas Heart Institute, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

• July 1, 2013: Started intern year
• June 8-9, 2014: Took the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 3
• June 12, 2015: Took the American Board of Anesthesiology’s Basic Exam ultimately scoring in the top 10th percentile

• April 15, 2016: Accepted an outside-of-match offer to do my critical care medicine and adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowships at Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School
• July 2016 – June 2017: Selected as a chief anesthesiology resident by faculty and residents
• June 23, 2017: Graduated from categorical anesthesiology residency at Baylor College of Medicine. Awarded the Gertie Marx Award (outstanding performance in obstetric anesthesia) and Robert D. Dripps Memorial Award (outstanding graduate resident in anesthesiology)

From July 2008 to January 2009, I taught physical sciences for the Princeton Review’s MCAT Review course. December 10, 2008, I received “the phone call” from my dream medical school, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), informing me of my acceptance, and started my training in July 2009. As a medical student, I participated in the following activities: Admissions Committee Student Co-Chair, Surgical Corps Co-Founder, Emergency Medicine Interest Group, Student Research Society, Gold Humanism Society Member

• August 14, 2009: White Coat Ceremony
• March 17, 2012: Took the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 1
• August 14, 2012: Took the USMLE Step 2 – Clinical Skills (CS)
• November 4, 2012: Took the USMLE Step 2 – Clinical Knowledge (CK)
• March 15, 2013: Matched to my number 1 residency choice – categorical anesthesiology at Baylor College of Medicine
• May 27, 2013: Graduated from medical school at the Jesse H. Jones Hall

Although I have fond memories of my elementary school years, middle school and especially high school were rough as an overweight, nerdy Indian kid who didn’t care about style or wanting to be “cool.” Amidst the daily teasing, I sought refuge in academics and was motivated to focus squarely on planning my career and expediting things whenever possible.

By enrolling in advanced placement classes whenever possible and replacing my summer breaks with extra coursework, I was able to finish high school in three years and begin my undergraduate studies as a second-semester sophomore. This allowed me to also complete college in three years with a double major in chemistry and biochemistry molecular biology. During my undergrad time, I was involved with the following organizations: Alpha Epsilon Delta (chapter president and webmaster), Alpha Phi Omega (national co-ed service fraternity), Alpha Chi Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary Leadership Society, Society of Physics Students, South Asian Student Association (secretary), Student Foundation

• August 2002: I attended Cinco Ranch High School for my freshman year and was re-zoned to James E. Taylor High School for my sophomore and junior/senior years.
• May 2005: Graduated from high school in three years!
• July 2005: Pursued a double major in chemistry and biochemistry molecular biology (BCMB). Awarded Freshman of the Year by the College of Science and Mathematics (COSM)
• January and April 2007: Took the medical college admissions test (MCAT) twice before I was satisfied with my score.
• May 2008: Graduated summa cum laude (GPA 4.0) with a double bachelor of science in three years. Awarded President’s Award for Exemplary All-Round Male Student, Outstanding Chemistry Lab Teacher’s Assistant, Mr. Alpha Phi Omega, Max and Celia Grigsby Award for Outstanding Student in the College of Science and Mathematics, and Mr. HBU, Who’s Who Among College Students, National Dean’s List