Akanksha Nagarkar UG '21

Medical student at UMass Chan Medical School

As a medical student, I continue to see how anthropology has helped me become more knowledgeable about different patient populations and become a more empathetic and relatable provider. 

Akanksha Nagarkar graduated as an Anthropology major in 2021. Akanksha has always been fascinated by culture. Growing up in diverse places led her to the understanding that culture is at the heart of everything. So, as soon as she started thinking about going to college, she knew she wanted to become an Anthropology major to read and learn about culture. In particular, Akanksha was interested in analyzing the relationship between culture and science, which is another passion of hers. 

Currently, Akanksha is a medical student at UMass Chan Medical School. For Akanksha, her background in Anthropology plays a crucial role in her graduate education.“As a medical student, I continue to see how anthropology has helped me become more knowledgeable about different patient populations and become a more empathetic and relatable provider.”

Beyond the medical field, Akanksha feels that her Anthropology major has been helpful in every aspect of her life. It broadened her view of the world and her community. Specifically, she values that the community-based lens that anthropology emphasized helped her start and lead an NGO in her community. “One memory that sticks with me is when I was a student in the Grassroots Community Organizing course. I was one of twenty students, and we lived and worked in a small attic in Springfield for one week. We had the best time learning about community organizing and getting rich practical experience with different organizations. That experience not only taught me many skills about organizing that I use today, but it also helped me meet so many incredible and passionate people!.”

[Interview edited on 2021]