COM Outlook Summer/Fall 2019

14 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE discuss global issues. These daily discussions instilled in her the value of working hard, like her parents, who dedicated their lives to others. Hazariwala, who grew up in Gainesville, Florida, may have taken her time in terms of deciding on a medical career, but when the inspiration to do so materialized, she immediately acted on it. Thanks to her love of music, Hazariwala’s medical ambitions were stoked after she volunteered for an organization at the University of Florida called Arts in Medicine. “As the musician ‘on call,’ I would bring my guitar to patients’ rooms in the nearby hospital and play and sing them a song of their choice. These intimate moments helped patients reveal to me their insecurities and fears about life and death, and the relationships that made them whole,” said Hazariwala, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences degree from the Uni- versity of Florida. “I realized the impact I could have as their physician by caring for them in their most vulnerable times. That’s why medicine was the one profession that spoke to my soul the most.” Prior to becoming a KPCOM student, Hazariwala took a gap year to conduct clinical research at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. “Upon meeting my research adviser, she told me the best part of her job was knowing she could not only improve her patient’s lives, but also that she could contribute to the advance- ment of science. I immediately knew I wanted to have the same impact on people for generations to come,” she explained. “Research taught me all the skills necessary for medicine— patience, creative and critical thinking, and effective communi- cation,” added Hazariwala, who would soon be using her writing and organizational skills as editor in chief of the KPCOM’s student newsletter, SGA Rounds . “I realized that being editor in chief of SGA Rounds would allow me to dictate how I wanted to be remembered at NSU. The news- letter provides an opportunity for students to share their experi- ences with volunteering and leadership, which helps them blaze a trail for junior students.” During her two-year stint in the editor’s role, Hazariwala wrote several articles, including one detailing the stories of four classmates who overcame health challenges in their lives. “They fought cancer, inflammatory diseases, and multiple surgeries as pediatric patients and continued to strive for excellence through adulthood,” she said. “I was so touched by their stories and wanted to share their perspec- tives—from bedridden to bed- side, from patient to physician.” During her time at the KPCOM, Hazariwala’s passion for research and writing broad- ened to include leadership, which occurred when she became aware of, and bothered by, the numerous governmental policies that dictate a physician’s capabilities. “I was compelled to take part in this type of decision-making at a local level by participating in the KPCOM’s Student Government Association as administrator of public affairs. This role allowed me to reach out to school adminis- tration and physicians in the Fort Lauderdale area, as well as to our FAST FACTS VIKISHA HAZARIWALA, D.O. Hometown • Gainesville, Florida Leadership Highlights • administrative peer mentor for the KPCOM Silverman Society • administrator of public affairs for the KPCOM’s Student Government Association • editor in chief of the SGA Rounds student newsletter • member of the KPCOM Student Leadership Committee • national liaison for the American Medical Student Association Special Olympics Residency Training • ophthalmology residency at Beaumont Health in Detroit, Michigan KPCOM Kudos “One of my favorite memories was my trip to Washing- ton, D.C., for D.O. Day on Capitol Hill. Osteopathic students from around the country meet in March every year and advocate for changes in the medical field. It was an honor to speak with my district’s representatives and to share with them the necessity of maintaining teaching hospitals in rural areas.” Words of Wisdom “Study with conviction and sincerity. The reward of know- ing more and showing more kindness is when your attend- ing physician trusts you enough to pass you the scalpel and drill, or when the attending calls you in the middle of the night to help assist with lifesaving measures. Don’t think of yourself as ‘just’ a medical student. You are now a part of a loved one’s medical team.” PILLARS OF LEADERSHIP