Dr. Sonal Gagrani: American Academy of Neurology Medical Student Prize for Excellence in Neurology
Dr. Sonal Gagrani’s fascination with the brain started with a neuroscience course in high school. After earning a neuroscience degree, she felt the pull of that field again during her medical education. Now, Dr. Gagrani is headed to a neurology residency this summer, with particular interests in neuromuscular and neuroimmunological diseases.
What this award means: “I am grateful to be recognized for my contribution to neurology as a medical student. I have loved patient-centered clinical care in the field, sharing my passion and knowledge with peers as a mentor and delving into research and quality improvement work. This award reinforces my belief that the brain was the thing for me!”
Mentor comment: “She goes above and beyond for her patients. She has excellent bedside manners and great team skills. But the most striking event was when she spoke up as an advocate for a patient, which led to a change in the medical management plan and a drastically better outcome than would have been otherwise.” – Dr. Ghazala Perven, Assistant Professor of Neurology
Background and family: “I was born in India, and my family immigrated to the United States when I was about 3 years old. I grew up in the Northeast for most of my life and moved to Texas for medical school.”
What led to your career path: “My first neuroscience course was during a summer program in high school, where I fell in love with the idea of studying the essence of who we all are. There is so much we don’t know about the brain and rapidly advancing knowledge in the field. It became my college major, and although I started medical school with an open mind, I chose the brain to study again. Empathy and compassion are traits that I have always considered my strengths, and these are traits that I felt would help me serve patients well in a medical profession.”
UTSW activities: “I was involved in the Neurology Student Interest Group, served as Show Chair for the Multicultural Week Committee, and Open School Chapter Lead and Coach for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and am graduating with distinction in quality improvement and patient safety.”
Surprising fact: “I speak intermediate-level Mandarin Chinese and have spent several summers in China during college for leadership and service programs. I still have five years left on my visa, so I’m hoping to visit again in the next few years!”
Future plans: “I will be starting a neurology residency program this July. My particular interests are in neuromuscular and neuroimmunological disease. I hope to continue integrating quality improvement and patient safety projects in my career, as I have during medical school.”
About the award: The award is presented to a graduating medical student who has promising career potential in neurology as determined by faculty and residents.