Dr. Reshma Narain: Hemphill-Gojer Award in Internal Medicine
Dr. Reshma Narain had an impressive role model growing up: Her maternal grandmother was an internist who headed a large community hospital in Beijing, China. Following in her footsteps, Dr. Narain hopes to provide health care to underserved populations while also working as a clinician-educator.
What this award means: “As I reflect back on my time as a medical student, I realize that I have been truly fortunate to train under such amazing Internal Medicine faculty and residents during my clinical years. I can’t help but feel both incredibly honored and humbled to receive this award from the physicians I so admire.”
Mentor comment:“Reshma is a true and passionate patient advocate. She has spent her time in medical school particularly dedicated to the health of women and adolescents through research and community outreach efforts. She hopes to use her career in medicine to empower patients through healthy lifestyle interventions. Her ability to form authentic connections with patients will make this possible.” – Dr. Stephanie Brinker, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
Background and family: “I’m a child of immigrants and grew up in a multicultural (Chinese and Indian) household. My parents are software engineers. We’re definitely a small family – I am an only child. My maternal grandmother was an internist who headed a large community hospital in Beijing during the Cultural Revolution. It makes me proud to be following in her footsteps as a future internal medicine doc!”
What led to your career path: “During college, I worked extensively with the urban underserved populations of Los Angeles, whether through volunteering at health fairs or community outreach projects. I saw firsthand how a lack of access to primary care culminated in devastating complications of manageable chronic diseases like diabetes. As an undergrad, I often felt frustrated about my inability to provide the health care that these vulnerable populations deserved. My desire to do right by underserved communities was one of the major reasons why I decided to pursue medicine.”
UTSW activities: “I served as co-Director for the Humanism in Medicine elective, Course Director for the Women’s Health Enrichment elective, and as a Colleges peer mentor. In an effort to give back to the vulnerable populations of Dallas, I have regularly volunteered at the United to Serve Health Fair, counseled at-risk youth about consent and healthy relationships, and raised awareness of intimate partner violence as the Advocacy Chair of the V-Day Organization. I have also served as medical staff at Camp Sweeney and co-directed/acted in ‘The Vagina Monologues’ for three years in a row!”
Surprising fact: “I am a really huge nerd at heart. I love reading comics, playing Dungeons and Dragons with my friends, and trying out new video games!”
Future plans: “After residency, I hope to combine my passions for working with underserved populations, addressing the social and structural determinants of health, and teaching by pursuing a career in general internal medicine as a clinician-educator.”
About the award: The award, presented to one or more top medical students in internal medicine, was established by Ross H. and Anne Seymour Hemphill in honor of their son and daughter-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Seymour Hemphill; their daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Gojer; and Anne Hemphill’s parents, E. Clyde and Florine Allen Seymour. Dr. Hemphill and Dr. Gojer are both UTSW Medical School alumni.