Prema is a second year medical student at TCU School of Medicine. She states, ” . I grew up in Southern California and studied Bharatanatyam for more than 13 years.  I attended the University of California, Irvine where I majored in Biological Sciences and minored in History. After, I pursued a Masters in Applied Life Sciences with a concentration in Translational Research at the Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, California.”

Prema is passionate about reproductive and sexual health, specifically on HPV education, period poverty and menstrual health. She states, “. I am very interested in qualitative research projects and conducting interviews in order to better understand how one’s motivations, experiences, and cultural background shapes their opinions and beliefs. I would love to pursue a research project that focuses on understanding South Asian women’s experiences with menstruation and sexual health.”.

When asked about her personal view of how traditional arts and medicine combine, she describes how dance taught her communication skills in a way that translated to patient care and outcomes. She plans on applying that skill during her research year with us, stating “This fellowship is important to me because it will allow me to explore how traditional beliefs can affect one’s perception and understanding of reproductive and sexual health.”.

Prema will work with SAMSA, the South Asian Medical Student Association, to work on a database on menstrual and gynecological health, followed by a qualitative research study.