When Kasthuri Nair left the labs and lecture halls of Johns Hopkins University, she thought she had a clear vision of her future. But her four years between undergrad and medical school—spent as a medical writer—reshaped her understanding of what it means to heal.
“I always said I wanted to be a doctor,” she said. “But I don’t think I really answered why medicine until I became a medical writer.”
At Hopkins, Kasthuri learned how to study—really study. “It’s where I realized brute-forcing the night before an exam wouldn’t cut it,” she laughed. “Hopkins challenged me to grow and think critically. It was tough, but it taught me how to learn.”
After graduation, she joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a medical writing intern. That experience sparked a realization: she didn’t just love science—she loved communication, storytelling, and translating medicine into human connection.
“I liked words, I liked science—and medical writing was the perfect marriage of the two,” she said. “It helped me learn how to communicate medicine clearly and compassionately, which is what being a doctor is all about.”
Kasthuri’s time as a medical writer helped her understand the importance of narrative in medicine—but it also revealed what was missing.
“I’d look at research spreadsheets and see patient numbers—‘patient 567’—and think, what’s their story?” she said. “That’s when I knew I didn’t want to just write about medicine. I wanted to practice it.”
Her mentors at the research organization she worked with—all vascular surgeons—became her inspiration. “They were brilliant, driven, kind,” she said. “I remember thinking, I want to be like them. That’s when I realized I wanted to be part of that world.”
That calling led her to Emory University School of Medicine, where she’s now completing her fourth year.
From her first week, Emory left a lasting impression.
“They send you into the hospitals right after orientation,” Kasthuri explained. “You don’t know anything yet—you’re just there to meet patients. They do it so your first patient encounter isn’t with a cadaver. It’s such a beautiful idea, to remind us of the humanity in medicine from day one.”
That early exposure laid the foundation for the compassion she now brings to her clinical rotations. But it also prepared her for the emotional challenges that medical school doesn’t always talk about.
“My palliative care rotation was really hard,” she said softly. “You don’t realize how attached you get to patients, even when you only see them for a few hours. When they pass, it takes more out of you than you expect. It’s emotionally testing—but it reminds you why this work matters.”
Research has been a constant thread throughout Kasthuri’s life—starting as early as middle school. “My first project was literally testing if onions make you cry,” she laughed.
That curiosity never faded. At MD Anderson, she worked on large-scale studies and meta-analyses. Now, her medical school research focuses on vascular outcomes and health disparities, particularly in patients with peripheral artery disease and pulmonary embolisms.
“What fascinates me about vascular surgery is that it’s the whole body,” she said. “It’s medicine and engineering and art all at once.”
But when it came time to choose between an MD-PhD and a traditional medical path, her answer was clear.
“I thought about it seriously,” she admitted. “But I realized I wanted to be closer to patients. Research gives me perspective—but medicine gives me meaning.”
For Kasthuri, the moment everything clicked happened during her vascular surgery rotation—on the day of a solar eclipse.
“The eclipse was supposed to be the coolest part of the day,” she said, smiling. “But instead, the surgeon let me place my hand inside a patient’s chest during a thoracic outlet surgery. I could feel the heartbeat against my palm. That was the moment I knew—this is what I’m meant to do.”
Her fascination with vascular surgery is rooted not just in the science, but in the people. “Everyone says you’ll find your specialty when you find your people,” she said. “For me, it’s the vascular surgeons. They’re passionate, grounded, and collaborative. I found my community.”
Kasthuri’s approach to preparing for residency mirrors the thoughtful, organized discipline that defines her journey.
“Early on, I reached out to vascular surgeons at Emory and Grady,” she said. “They were incredibly supportive. They want to help you succeed—they want you to be their colleague someday.”
She started planning in her first year—seeking advice, attending vascular surgery conferences, and collaborating on research projects. “That’s where networking really happens,” she explained. “It’s a small community, and getting to know people early helps you understand what a strong application looks like.”
For students preparing to apply to residency, she recommends practicing self-reflection and communication early—skills you can strengthen through Residency Essay Editing and Residency Mock Interviews. And for tailored guidance, you can book a 1:1 Residency Advising Session with Carlos Tapia, who co-hosted her episode.
Outside of medicine, Kasthuri finds balance in the same way she found belonging—in the world around her.
“I’m a foodie,” she laughed. “Atlanta has such an amazing food scene, and when I need to recharge, I explore the city or head to the mountains. Hiking in the North Georgia hills is my way of resetting.”
Those escapes, she said, are essential to longevity in medicine. “You give so much of yourself in this field. You have to find moments that fill you back up.”
Reflecting on her path from medical writer to soon-to-be doctor, Kasthuri’s advice to future physicians is both practical and heartfelt.
“It’s so good to have a dream, and no dream is too small,” she said. “The process might take ten more steps than you expected—but those steps are what make it worthwhile. And sometimes, the dream changes—and that’s okay. You’ll end up exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
Her journey is a testament to what happens when passion meets patience—when curiosity meets compassion.
“Keep pushing. Expect the unexpected—but embrace it, too.” — Kasthuri Nair
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