White Coat Profile: Vedanshi Bhargava

The White Coat Ceremony marks the first time a medical student will don his or her white coat, the defining symbol of a physician. The coat bestows a great honor on each student, and with it comes a responsibility to uphold the trust of every patient they will encounter. The Class of 2022 will receive their white coats on July 20 during a ceremony that begins at 3:30 p.m. at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Meet Vedanshi Bhargava

First-year medical student Vedanshi Bhargava — a graduate of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona — has known that she wanted to study medicine for a long time. “I had an existential crisis early on in life, around the age of 10, and I remember thinking to myself, ‘We’re all going to die. What keeps us going? What makes us uniquely human?’ ”

That inquisitiveness inspired her as an undergraduate at the University of Arizona in Tucson. There, she majored in neuroscience and cognitive science and also engaged in research related to Parkinson’s Disease.

After her time at UA, she worked at UCLA, studying the neurobiology behind decision making. With each successive pursuit, Bhargava felt she was drawing closer to the answers she was seeking; but there was still something missing.

It was not until she volunteered as a dance instructor for patients with Parkinson’s that she found what she was looking for. “The human condition isn’t just a derivative of biology. It is a derivative of biology and human experience,” she said. “As a doctor, I hope to use the knowledge I gain about the human condition to help my patients during times of suffering.”

In addition to pursuing an MD, Bhargava is also studying to complete a PhD through the college's MD/PhD dual degree program; so although she is entering with the Class of 2022, her studies will take longer to complete. She'll graduate closer to 2025 or 2026.

Describe Your Volunteer Experiences

Bhargava spent time as a Bollywood dance instructor, working with patients at the Parkinson’s Wellness and Recovery Gym in Tucson and the Oasis Behavioral Health Hospital in Chandler.

The expressive nature of dance, “provides a beautiful medium to portray and release emotions and experiences that we often cannot put into words. It is incredible that dance combines both art and exercise, so that one receives the boon of expression and the benefits of physical movement,” she said.

In Tucson, she started a girl empowerment program at a local middle school. The program served as a safe space for young women to talk about their experiences free of judgment.

Bhargava loves being able to give back to the community. An added bonus is that volunteering allows her a chance to hear the stories of people with different lives than her own, which can often prove enlightening.

Why Did You Choose the College of Medicine – Phoenix?

Simply put: It was the right fit. Not only did she find the culture welcoming and supportive, but there was an opportunity to continue that neuroscience research she began as an undergrad.

What Does the White Coat Mean to You?

“The white coat symbolizes a humbling, lifelong journey of committing to the service of humanity. It symbolizes the privilege to heal and the great responsibility of taking care of others,” she said.

Be a part of this storied tradition by becoming a White Coat Sponsor today! Your generous gift will provide one of these future physicians with their white coat.