DR SAM RAI (CLASS OF 2014) AND DR AAYUSHI RAI (CLASS OF 2016)
WE ARE
FAMILY
RCSI has become a sibling tradition in many families, as multiple family members seek the same memorable student experience
A
nyone who has ever spent time at RCSI will know that the University has educated many generations of the same families. It’s a tradition that continues to this day in RCSI’s campuses in Ireland, Bahrain and Malaysia, with children following not just in the footsteps of their parents – many of whom first met at RCSI – but their siblings too.
DR CHANDHU PAKA (CLASS OF 2007) AND DR PAVAN PAKA (CLASS OF 2014)
“I attended RCSI first and can say, without any hesitation, that it was the best time of my life,” says Dr Chandhu Paka (pictured above). “I absolutely influenced Pavan to come to RCSI!” Chandhu, a double fellowship-trained gynaecological surgeon, lives in New York and works at Mount Sinai West, while her younger brother, Dr Pavan Paka, is a graduating IM resident at Mount Sinai West/Morningside and will be starting his fellowship at Columbia in July. Even though the siblings’ time at RCSI did not overlap, Chandhu says she cherishes having had the opportunity to relive so many RCSI moments through Pavan’s eyes. “What an amazing thing to be able to listen to him recount his stories years after I graduated,” she says. “There were so many traditions that remained the same, but also so many new and exciting things happening. One of the best things about RCSI is that we are grounded in a rich tradition but are strongly progressive. As a family, I can say that Pavan’s grad week was the absolute best time. We had so much fun. Individually, we have countless memories of our time at RCSI. To top it off, we both made lifelong friendships. I am looking forward to coming back to Dublin this summer for the Alumni Gathering.”
28
Dr Sam Rai is currently completing a robotic urologic oncology fellowship at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, under the tutelage of Dr James Porter, having graduated from a urologic surgery residency at University of Louisville, Kentucky. His sister, Dr Aayushi Rai is currently completing her neuroradiology fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, having graduated from a diagnostic radiology residency at Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts. Sam was the first of the siblings to attend RCSI. “I was extremely happy with the medical education I received, and particularly enjoyed the collegiality I experienced thanks to the diverse student population,” he says. “There were multiple opportunities for personal and professional development.” Sam’s positive experience meant that when it was time for Aayushi to apply to medical school, she had no hesitation in putting RCSI at the top of her list. “Our time at RCSI overlapped for three years, from 2011-2014,” she explains. “We were able to support each other through the ups and downs of medical school and life abroad. Having an older sibling who had gone through the same medical school courses was a great resource for me, and Sam helped guide me through my studies. He taught me how to focus on the important subject areas and use the right tools and resources.” The two excelled at their studies, with Sam receiving the Ellen Moorhouse Medal in Microbiology (second place) in 2013 and Aayushi receiving the Kane Medal in Neurobiology in 2013. “While at RCSI, we were both extremely socially active,” says Aayushi. “We both had a strong circle of friends and often spent time in groups which included people from both Sam’s and my class. We have many great memories of our time together at RCSI. Events such as the Chocolate Ball and College Ball were very special. We loved the International Nights, and remember the meet-ups in The Swan Bar after anatomy card signings, studying in the library, celebrating the end of year summer exams in St Stephen’s Green, ballad nights during Freshers’ Week, and attending each other’s graduation balls. We had an incredibly memorable time at RCSI, and we often reminisce about it very fondly. “While in the US, we have tried to attend RCSI-hosted events, including the annual alumni event in Boston, a great way to stay in touch with RCSI alumni from across the country. We have also tried to support and mentor current and past RCSI students in obtaining research and residency positions in the US. “We are both pursuing careers in academic medicine in the US, and hope to continue to collaborate with RCSI in developing and expanding opportunities for cross-continent professional development, research and mentorship. We are incredibly grateful to RCSI for the opportunities it has afforded us, from jumpstarting our careers to the support that it continues to provide.”
