Committee on Academic Advancement Self Nomination for Siddhartha Sahai

I am a third-year medical student at Albany Medical College. I am pursuing an MD/DR through its reputed Physician-Scientist Program. My admission was based on my early involvement in surgical research, co-authoring a publication in neurosurgical research at age 17 and, soon after, achieving my first lead-author basic neurosurgical publication. These experiences propelled me towards academic surgery.

My subsequent life-changing open-heart surgery by renowned surgeon Dr. del Nido kindled my interest in congenital cardiac surgery research. At the Cleveland Clinic, I researched aortic valve pathologies, disparities in congenital heart disease, and optimizing cholecystectomy outcomes in general surgery.

My commitment to global surgical education is demonstrated through my work with Children’s HeartLink, where I secure funding to enable cardiac surgical teams to train surgeons at sites worldwide, ensuring high-quality care for children in underserved countries. At Pallium India, I help integrate evidence-based palliative care principles into India’s national medical curriculum. And with Conquering CHD, I organized conferences with legislators and presented research to influence policy on congenital heart disease disparities.

I serve on Albany Medical College’s Curriculum Advisory Committee, contributing to curriculum improvements that enhance education quality and student well-being. As a recipient of the 2024 Society of Thoracic Surgeons “Looking to the Future” Scholarship, I gained valuable insights into mentorship program creation, which I am eager to bring to AAS committees.

My extensive experiences in education, global health, curriculum development, and conducting award-winning basic and clinical research uniquely positions me to advance the mission of the AAS across its committees.

0