Kaine Law congratulates Nikhil Jaganathan, this year’s Growing Your Community Scholarship winner. The law firm awards the $1,500 scholarship to deserving high school, undergraduate, or graduate students who commit to improving their communities.
Nikhil will use the scholarship to pursue his educational and professional goals in medicine. “I knew that this subject was perfect for my career path and longstanding commitment to serving my community,” he says when he learned about the scholarship essay topic.
Nikhil recently began his studies at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA, to earn a Doctor of Medicine medical degree in four years. He then plans to complete residency training. In the spring of 2023, he earned an undergraduate degree in cell and molecular biology at Augusta University, where he was also part of its Medical Scholars Program.
Nikhil Embraces Opportunities to Serve and Grow His Community
Nikhil shares that community service has always been a fundamental aspect of his life, inspiring him to pursue a career that enables him to help others live healthier lives. He volunteers at Piedmont Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, and Grady Hospital in Atlanta and serves as vice president of August University Doctors Without Borders and the fundraising chair of Brain Exercise Initiative. Both nonprofit organizations are on the university’s campus.
“I have been able to hone my leadership skills and spearhead my own initiatives, whether organizing a bake sale or partnering with local restaurants to support the Alzheimer’s Association, preparing meals for families of pediatric patients, or organizing CPR classes for students to promote emergency preparedness,” he says.
In addition to serving the community, Nikhil serves as an MCAT tutor and college admissions counselor and is also involved in research about cardiovascular research and COVID-19.
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How an Encounter With a Patient Inspired Nikhil to Pursue His Career in Medicine
During his emergency medical technician training, Nikhil was part of a team that treated a patient who had refused to take antipsychotic medications for his schizophrenia disorder and medications for his diabetes. When the team first arrived to treat the patient, they found him yelling at police officers while his parents demanded he go to the hospital.
Seeing he was about the same age as the patient, Nikhil started to think about what he could do to de-escalate the situation. He decided to help calm the patient down by talking about school, sports, and video games, gradually earning his trust. The patient allowed Nikhil to ask him questions and take his blood glucose reading. Eventually, he got the patient to agree to ride in an ambulance so he could receive medical care.
“At our destination, the patient was a transformed individual,” Nikhil writes in his scholarship essay. “It was evident that my empathy had softened his temperament and naturalized his mannerisms. I felt a sense of joy seeing the difference I had made, further fueling my passion to become a physician to serve as a light for those struggling in the darkness of their suffering.
“This experience as a part of my Emergency Medical Technician training was truly pivotal as it truly drove me to become a more empathetic and driven leader of my community.”
Nikhil’s Wants to Become Cardiologist to Help People With Heart Disease
His chance encounter with the patient is one of many that motivate Nikhil to help others. He is particularly interested in studying heart disease, which has affected some of his family members. His maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother suffered fatal heart attacks, and losing them made him want to become a cardiologist after finishing medical school.
He also realized his passion after attending Stanford University’s Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills Internship, where he obtained hands-on training with various advanced cardiothoracic surgical techniques.
“The field of medical advancement in heart disease is truly one that I am personally invested in and hope to work towards in the future,” he says. “As a physician, I hope to open my own cardiovascular clinic. Currently, heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, impacting countless families, including my own — I seek a future where that is no longer the case,” he says.
“Accessibility to preventative, diagnostic, and curative medicine is a basic right, and I hope to work to ensure that all individuals can have peace of mind regarding their family’s health.”
Congratulations on Your Community Service Scholarship, Nikhil!
The Kaine Law team wants to extend its congratulations to our Growing Your Community Scholarship winner, Nikhil Jaganathan. We are proud of him and admire his accomplishments and commitment to service in academics and his community.
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Our Firm Awards Scholarships to Students Who Are Making a Difference
Kaine Law aims to provide future scholarships to students who excel in academics and service. If you or someone you know is interested in applying for one of our scholarships, please visit our website to learn more about the award and qualifications. We wish you every success!
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About Kaine Law
Kaine Law is a personal injury law firm serving communities throughout Georgia. The firm represents people injured through negligence and seeks financial recovery for their injuries and losses.
If you or someone you know suffered damage in a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall accident, or another event causing injuries, the firm can review your legal options and advise you on your next steps. You can start today with a free consultation.
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