Arsh is a third-year medical student at the Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Take a look at his poster:

Skin Color and Quality of Life in Vitiligo: A Systematic Review (PDF)

Authors: Arsh Patel, MS; Amy McMichael, MD; Amit Pandya, MD

Background:

Arsh Patel is a medical student at Wake Forest School of Medicine. He attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and earned a B.S. in Biomolecular Science and Drama. He completed his M.S. in Biomedical science at Wake Forest Graduate School. He has an interest in research aiming to explore and raise awareness for the psychosocial aspects of dermatologic disease. Currently, he is working with Drs. Amit Pandya and Amy McMichael to better understand the psychological and quality of life implications of vitiligo, specifically within the context of global variations in culture, race, and skin types.

Quote:

“My interest in vitiligo research stems from my previous work exploring the management of patients with the dermatologic disease and psychosocial comorbidity. Reading published literature, I found that individuals with vitiligo frequently experience profound obstacles in coping with the condition. As vitiligo impacts all races worldwide, I became increasingly intrigued to learn more about possible variations in the quality of life and coping mechanisms within distinct cultural contexts. Through this work, I hope to become more involved in creating improved patient-centered therapeutic options through increased awareness and multidisciplinary collaboration.”

Fun, interesting fact:

One of Arsh’s undergraduate majors was in Drama. He says he has always been creatively inclined and hopes to continue finding small ways of integrating the arts into healthcare and medical education.