Anand Popuri
Oneida, N.Y.
Class Of: 2012

Campus: Old Westbury
Major: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

How did you become interested in the medical field?

My father is my role model and, as a physician, he has really inspired me. Since I grew up in a small town, people around the neighborhood used to come up to me all the time, even in grocery stores, and tell me about what my father did for them and their families. Because they were all so appreciative of my father, I was motivated to follow in his footsteps. My parents are first-generation immigrants, and they taught me to work hard and value one’s education. I took that lesson and ran with it.

Why did you choose to study at NYIT?

I thought it was a great campus. When I interviewed at NYIT, I was very impressed with the facilities and loved the integration of technology . I also got the impression that the faculty members are very accessible to students, and that is certainly the truth. There are also incredible clinical options. We have access to many reputable hospitals, more than the other medical schools I was considering. What really stood out to me was that students have the unique ability to change things on campus through opportunities in student affairs and academic affairs.

How is NYIT preparing you for success?

At NYCOM, there is a lot of focus on being a professional. Not only are we being taught to become physicians, but we are also learning to be a part of a professional world, and this is what really prepares us for the future.

What have been some of your achievements during your time at NYIT?

As soon as I got on campus, I joined the Student Government Association at NYCOM, and became the secretary for the Class of 2012. As part of this, I helped organize many community service events with the Boys and Girls Club of Glen Cove, where volunteers from NYCOM prepared lessons for children about healthy lifestyles. I also had an internship with Area Health Education Center (AHEC) through NYCOM, and I worked as a diabetes educator and informed patients about ways to live healthy lives through diet, exercise, and their social environments.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to work in a hands-on environment, which is why I decided to study osteopathic medicine. I want to work as a physician, but I have not yet chosen a specific field yet. I am, however, considering a career in surgery.

What are some of your interests?

I am very involved in staying physically fit. I have been playing tennis since I was four years old, and continue to play on NYIT’s intramural team. I also enjoy other sports and always participate in competitions among NYCOM students. Academically, I have recently become interested in electronic health records (EHRs). When I began medical school, I was taught that, as students, we were going to become very exposed to EHRs, because this is such a widely used practice. I was interested in finding the program that would work the best for me when I begin practicing, and I chose Practice Fusion. I introduced this program to my father, and he has now incorporated it into his practice. I was also interviewed by the company, and they published the interview on their blog.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

I give off the impression that I am very easy-going guy, but deep down I am obsessive about my education. I put in my full effort with every single thing I do.