By Brandi Wylie ’24
Shaan Chhabra ’25, a biology major from Greenville, South Carolina, has always wanted to be a neurologist.
In January, Chhabra journeyed to Ahmedabad, India, and shadowed Dr. Sagar Betai, a practicing neurologist. During his time there, he found inspiration to incorporate some of India’s health care practices into his pursuits in neurology.
“I want to implement some of the practices from India, like better patient care,” Chhabra says. “As a future neurologist, I aim to treat patients individually, not as mere numbers or statistics.”
Under the tutelage of Dr. Betai, Chhabra divided his time between two hospitals: SGVP Hospital and a civil hospital in Gandhinagar. SGVP caters to the city population, while the civil hospital serves villagers with fewer resources.
At SGVP Hospital, Chhabra observed neurological examinations and procedures. He even conducted some general examinations, including taking vitals.
In the civil hospital, just an hour away from SGVP, Chhabra noted significant socioeconomic differences. While he observed a high patient-to-doctor ratio, with up to 60 patients seen in a three-hour span, Chhabra says he observed no compromise in the quality of care.
Reflecting on his experience, Chhabra discussed the efficient healthcare access in India, suggesting potential improvements in the United States
“How can we improve health care in America? I thought about this a lot while I was in India,” Chhabra says. “It’s all about expanding options for patients. I think there is a lot we can learn from this system.”
Chhabra is eager to return to India and gain more information. He says that, although he tried his best to soak everything in and take as many notes as he could, he knows that there is still more to learn.