Commencement Profile: Lucky Surendra

On Monday, May 6, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix will hold its 14^th Commencement. Led by a pipe and drum corps, the Class of 2024 will process through downtown Phoenix, finishing at the Orpheum Theatre for their official ceremony. The day marks the beginning of the next phase in their journey as physicians. The college profiled a series of graduating students to commemorate the milestone.

Meet Lucky Surendra

Lucky Surendra grew up in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area and has lived here for most of his life.

During high school, he piqued his curiosity for medicine by volunteering with local hospitals and community organizations. He also participated in the MedStart and Summer Scrubs programs at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. Those opportunities further developed Surendra’s interest in pursuing a career in the health professions.

Studying for his undergraduate degree at Arizona State University, he volunteered at a student-run free clinic, as well as with a street medicine initiative and community health organization that provided health care for people experiencing homelessness in Phoenix. These outreach efforts reaffirmed medicine as Surendra’s calling.

Throughout medical school, he has continued to work with students and faculty at the college in those programs; and it has been rewarding for him to elevate his involvement in the community as a medical student, serving as a lead of Street Medicine Phoenix and contributing to various other research projects and community initiatives.

Surendra is thankful to his family — including his dad, mom and brother — as well as his partner, Rohini, for their constant motivation, encouragement and unwavering support. He also expressed appreciation to all his mentors in medical school and prior; his classmates and friends outside of medical school; and everyone else who has helped him over the past few years. It really does take a village, and he is super grateful.

Match Day

On Match Day, what was it like discovering where you were headed for residency?

I was ecstatic and thrilled to find out I’d be going to UCLA for internal medicine residency! I was even more excited when my partner, with whom I couples matched, found out she’d be doing her residency in LA, too. We both felt a huge sense of relief knowing we’d be spending the next few years in the same city together. Match Day was an incredible experience surrounded by friends and family, celebrating our achievements.

What’s Next?

What excites you most about your upcoming residency? Where are you headed?

I’m headed to UCLA for my residency in internal medicine! I’m looking forward to training as a resident, caring for patients and continuing to build my skills as a physician. I’m also looking forward to living in LA and exploring all that the city has to offer.

I’m most excited to become part of such an amazing culture at UCLA, among co-residents and faculty who are incredibly kind, fun, supportive and caring.

What inspired you to pursue this specialty?

My background working with underserved populations, particularly people experiencing homelessness, inspired me to pursue a medical specialty that emphasizes health equity and treating the patient as a whole. My third-year internal medicine clerkship was what sold me on internal medicine, as I worked with amazing residents and attendings who practiced humanistic and comprehensive patient care.

I not only enjoyed the diagnostic reasoning and variety of pathologies inherent to the field of internal medicine, but I also loved the emphasis on interdisciplinary care and care coordination — prioritizing patients’ social issues, goals of care and disposition, in addition to their primary medical problems.

I’m excited to explore the variety of career options within internal medicine, and I’m especially interested in pursuing gastroenterology/hepatology or hospital medicine.

The College of Medicine – Phoenix Culture

Looking back, what’s your favorite medical school memory?

My favorite medical school memory is when I met my classmates for the first time. Most of our first year of medical school was virtual due to the pandemic, so it was a few months before we got the opportunity to all meet each other in person. I remember being so excited to finally meet all the amazing and kind people in my class. I’ve made lifelong friends and met incredible mentors in medical school, and those relationships are what I’ll cherish in the future.