Degree Program: IU School of Medicine, M.D. Program
Expected Graduation: May 2024
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., January 31, 2022—Nirupama is grateful to be part of the Bepko Scholars and Fellows Program for the opportunity to continue service learning experiences. She continues making an impact on IUPUI and the Indianapolis community as a Bepko Fellow and medical student. During her undergrad, Nirupama was a founder of the organization Active Minds, which enhances on-campus mental health services like CAPS and spreads awareness of the importance of mental health. She says that her most memorable experience during her time at IUPUI is when she presented breast cancer research at the Biophysical Society Annual Meeting under the mentorship of Dr. Ann C. Kimble-Hill. Nirupama experienced the entire research process from brainstorming ideas to presenting her research, which is what made the experience so impactful. From her experiences as a Bepko Scholar and Fellow, Nirupama knows she wants to dedicate her career to advancing innovation in resource-limited settings. “Through my work at the IU Student Outreach Clinic, I recognize how essential a focus on public health is across all specialties, and I want to spend my career thinking about how to make the health care setting more accessible for all patients,” she says. Nirupama continues to be motivated by gratitude and would like to recognize her undergraduate mentor, Dr. Kathi Badertscher, for always encouraging her.