Hello everyone! My name is Riya Patel, and I am a senior working towards dual degrees in Biology and Neuroscience on the Pre-Medicine track. I used to live in Georgia, but now I call Elizabethtown, Kentucky home and have been in the Bluegrass State for seven years! I have always had an interest in the medical world from a young age, but it wasn't until I came to the University of Kentucky that I truly discovered my passion and had the opportunity to pursue my dreams. 

My involvement at UK spans far and wide, as I am a part of UK's pre-medical society PhiDE, Apollo Society, SPHA (Student Public Health Association), Women in Neuroscience (WIN), and am a member of the Lewis Honors College. My favorite extracurricular activity is research; I currently work in Dr. Brainson’s lab with non-small cell lung cancer in the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology. I have completed two research internships; one is with the SPARK program where I completed a health equity project on equipment accessibility for spinal cord injury patients and the other is with the Markey Scholars STRONG Program where I learned so much about the world of cancer research. I was able to present my research at the National ABRCMS Conference in Phoenix, Arizona last November, and I am excited to present to more conferences this year. I also shadow physicians at the Chandler Hospital, and my favorite experience has been observing an anesthesiologist! 

Apart from my college involvement, I have grown to love the city of Lexington and am on a mission to go to every coffee shop here (feel free to give me any recommendations)! If you have any questions or want to know more about any of my experiences, please do not hesitate to reach out. Go Cats!!