Awesome Alum: Dr. Chirag Buch

By Pelle Munoz

Meet Chirag Buch MD, a third-year internal medicine resident at UT Health San Antonio and an esteemed UTSA alum.

In 2003, Buch and his family moved to the United States from India. Buch witnessed the importance of a physician’s role in the community and the lifesaving care they administer during a medical emergency. He decided to pursue a career in medicine and attended Health Careers High School, a magnet school in San Antonio. The seven-year accelerated B.S./M.D. program co-created by UTSA and UT Health San Antonio to facilitate acceptance and train more physicians in Texas—coupled with Buch’s admittance to the prestigious Terry Foundation Scholarship Program—brought Buch to UTSA. In 2016, he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in biology with Leadership Honors. Shortly after, he continued his education at UT Health San Antonio.

Buch appreciates UTSA for its diversity and culture. The university fosters an academic melting pot, with first-generation college students making up 45% of its student body and with its second-place national ranking for bilingual, multilingual and multicultural education by Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine

“Each student at UTSA comes with unique perspectives, stories and background, each with their own drive and passion, but most importantly with a strong sense of work ethic,” said Buch. “My parents gave up everything in India so that my brother and I could have an opportunity to be successful in the USA. This sentiment was something I could relate to with nearly every one of the students I met at UTSA. They were all extremely humble, motivated and willing to work hard to be successful.”

During his first year at UTSA, Buch pursued a research opportunity at UT Health San Antonio with the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. This area of study sought out surgical reconstructive options for patients with esophageal cancer resulting in partial or complete removal of the esophagus. Buch worked part time at UTSA as a teaching assistant for the First-Year Experience (FYE) course and served as a mentor to a cohort of freshmen with the Honors College.

Buch studied abroad in Amsterdam and London during his second year. Buch studied various topics pertaining to public health and the delivery of health care in a number of countries.

Wise Words

Buch encourages new students to meet with their adviser and create a roadmap for their college journey to maximize their success. “Thoroughly planning prevents any unnecessary delays and anxiety in meeting graduation requirements,” said Buch.

“This also allows students to take advantage of studyabroad programs and various other internships if planned appropriately.”

“I learned about the importance of strong primary care and the various roles government can play in the payment of health care,” he said. “Through the program, I was able to travel to Spain, Northern Ireland, Germany and France.”

During Buch’s third year, he was accepted into the UT System Archer Fellowship, a program that provides undergraduate students from across The University of Texas System with an opportunity to live, learn and intern in the nation’s capital. As an Archer Fellow, Buch worked in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the Office of the Surgeon General and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Human Response. In this role, he responded to the opioid epidemic and the Flint, Michigan, water crisis.

Using his specialization in cardiology, Buch aspires to serve the community and mentor the next generation of health care professionals. Buch hopes to utilize the knowledge and experience he gained at UTSA to optimize the delivery and improve the quality of health care.