Kavita and her husband Arun, at the Mayan Chichén Itzá pyramid in Cancun.
I don’t think many people know this, but I was born in Kenya, in a town called Kisumu, and raised in Nairobi — yes, Africa! I moved to the U.S. at the age of 16 with my family, and we settled in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am a middle child, one of three girls. My parents and sisters have been my support, my inspiration and the reason for the person I am today. I married my best friend, Arun, five months ago.
I love to travel, eat and have adventures. Fun fact: since the age of 13 I have never lived in one place for more than three years!
Why medicine? Why pulmonary medicine?
Neither of my parents are physicians, but for as long as I can remember, medicine was what I wanted to do. Why pulmonary medicine? Like a lot of people, I was first attracted to the critical care component; my MICU rotations during residency were probably the hardest ones, but definitely the most inspiring. The attendings I admired the most were pulm/crit care docs.
Having said that, I have grown to appreciate and respect pulmonary medicine a lot more since I started my fellowship. No offence to any other specialty, but pulmonary/critical care is where real medicine is!
Kavita with her parents at her residency graduation.
What opportunities have you had here at UVA? What has your fellowship experience been like?
Fellowship, especially the first year, has been tough, but gratifying. I’ve learned a tremendous amount from our patients, our great attendings, and the other Pulmonary fellows. We get excellent training in procedures, ultrasound (including EBUS [endobronchial ultrasound]), pathology, interstitial lung disease, and so much more. I’ve also had the opportunity to do some research in a pretty awesome lab.
Proudest achievement outside the professional realm?
I am a trained Indian classical dancer — although I haven’t danced in a long time because of school and life.
Kavita (center, holding her niece), with her cousin (far left) and sisters.
What are you usually doing in your spare time?
Watching films, catching up with my sisters and friends, spending time with the dog, playing tennis with my husband, and scanning menus for vegetarian options!
What’s one thing you always have in your fridge?
Condiments, lots of them! (Sriracha is a must!)
Where did you go on your last vacation?
We went to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon. We’re hoping to go to New Zealand for our next vacation.
Kavita (center, in yellow) and family, celebrating a pre-wedding Indian ritual in which the bride is covered in a paste of “turmeric, sandalwood and flour … to make her ‘glow’ before the wedding.”
If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Anything? Fly! But really: speak Spanish and play the piano.
Tell us about Kenya — were your parents from there originally? What did you miss most when you moved to the U.S.?
Ugali and sukuma wiki — a favorite dish in east Africa.
My dad moved from India to Kenya in his 20s, but I am a third-generation Indian-Kenyan on my mum’s side (my great-grandparents were the immigrants). What do I miss most? The famed Kenyan friendliness and hospitality; the lovely accent; the educational system (I studied in the British schooling system, and had to learn “American” English when I moved here.) And the food — there’s a traditional Kenyan dish I love but haven’t had in a while. It’s called “ugali and Sukuma wiki” — collard greens with a steamed cornmeal dough. Also, street food in Kenya is amazing — especially cassava chips (with salt and chili powder and lemon). Yum!
And of course, there is the natural beauty, and the amazing wildlife. We went on safaris during family vacations, and they were awesome.
What about you would surprise us?
I broke my collar bone when I was 15 while playing rugby.
Words to live by?
“God helps those who help themselves.”
Filed Under: News and Notes