In this episode we sit down with Rushi Patel, med student, longtime friend, and one of those people who somehow manages to balance curiosity, creativity, and grit. We talk high school, how creative projects shaped career opportunities, and what it’s actually like to go to Harvard and then endure the grind of med school.

From the awe of seeing the human body’s resilience to the rawness of trauma cases. We close by talking about the power of family, how support systems reset you when life gets overwhelming, and one simple piece of advice Rushi wants everyone to remember.

So settle in, get cozy, and grab your chai.

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Time codes

0:00 - WELCOME TO HALF PAST CHAI

01:06 - Meet our guest: Rishi Patel

3:21 - Garba, Navratri & how we first met

13:36 - The Avon lip-dub: going viral and what it taught us

18:20 - College & Harvard: experience, growth, and perspective

23:22 - College balance, saving, and learning to have fun

30:00 - Why some careers need passion (not money)

33:01 - The pre-med grind: MCAT, pre-clinicals & rotations

37:02 - Surgery stories: seeing the human body’s resilience

41:52 - Trauma on day one: cardiac massage & the fragility of life

49:58 - RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS