Shalini Patel

— By Bailey Durfey, M.A. Higher Education, class of 2023

Shalini Ashok Patel, a native of Oxford, MS, is a Psychology and Spanish double major with two minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience. After graduation, Shalini plans to attend medical school with the goal to become a neurosurgeon. Back when she began thinking about her future in healthcare, she did not know much about mental illness. After learning of her aunt’s diagnosis of schizophrenia, Shalini reflected on the lack of knowledge surrounding the disease and felt called to research more about the illness. After diving into schizophrenia research, Shalini became fascinated by how mental illness lacks physical effects observed by the normal eye. As she continued to learn, she found holes in information and research surrounding mental illness, holes she wants to fill in with her own research.

Back in high school, Patel had the opportunity to shadow in a few departments within the hospital. When speaking about her experience shadowing different surgeries in the hospital, she said, “I never wanted to leave.” She found it exciting and fun, and immediately realized that she wanted to be surgeon.

When Shalini first came to college, she had no idea what to expect, and was worried about how she was going to do. Thankfully, Grove Scholars provided an opportunity for her to take classes at the university in the summer before her freshman year. This experience allowed her to understand what college classes were like and see how they were structured. When asked about this experience, Shalini says, “I was very grateful to take the college classes before school started, and it gave me a head start into understanding how to be successful in college.”

Shalini credits FASTrack, Grove Scholars, and Jumpstart throughout her collegiate experience, describing how the continued support and encouragement influenced her time at the University of Mississippi. Not only did the faculty and staff help her through her first year and beyond, but she also found a tight knit community with the Grove Scholars. She was able to make friends before school even began and those relationships have continued throughout her time on campus.

Along with being a Grove Scholar, Shalini is a member of the homecoming committee for SAA, a Teaching Assistant for Biology 103 labs, an NSLS member, a Provost Scholar, the treasurer for the Psychology Club, a Biology 160 & 162 mentor, and works at the National Center for Physical Acoustics. She also has been the social event chair for Women in Cybersecurity, ASB freshman council member, a RASA peer mentor, and has worked at the Diversity and Community Engagement Center at UM. When Shalini reflects on her time as a student here, she is filled with gratitude at being able to be a part of the Grove Scholars family. With graduation looming in May, she is eagerly anticipating beginning medical career and see what the world has in store!