By Francis Von Mann
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 19, 2025) – Palak Patel’s grandmother had tuberculosis in her ankle. It took 17 doctors to figure that out. Watching her family navigate a medical system that wasn’t built for them, Patel knew she had found her calling: becoming a Kentucky physician who serves the thousands of immigrant families who deserve better health care.
Now a senior biology major in the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences and Lewis Honors College, Patel has spent four years building a foundation for her future. Through undergraduate research, academic mentorship and leadership experiences, she has built the confidence and skills necessary for medical school.
A First-Generation Student’s Defining Moment
Patel grew up in Hopkinsville. Her parents and grandparents came to the United States from India in the early 2000s, carrying a deep respect for education despite never having the opportunity to attend college themselves. They instilled the importance of education into Patel and her brother.
Patel excelled in school, drawn to the complexity of biology and the human body. By high school, she knew she wanted to pursue science, but it wasn’t until her grandmother’s medical crisis that she decided to become a physician. She saw firsthand the real-world consequences of a system that struggles to accommodate non-English-speaking families.
“Being in the patient’s room with my grandmother and serving as a translator was an odd but rewarding feeling,” Patel said. “They weren’t understanding her problem, and they kept sending her to specialists, running more tests. I wanted to be able to communicate past that language barrier.”
Finding Opportunities at the University of Kentucky
Patel arrived at UK as a first-generation college student, balancing the weight of family expectations with the uncertainty of navigating an unfamiliar world.
But in the College of Arts and Sciences, she found a community that supported her aspirations. Through undergraduate research, faculty mentorship and leadership roles, her path to medicine became clearer.
“Arts and Sciences offered me opportunities that I thought were never possible coming into college as a first-generation student,” Patel said. “It’s helped me find myself both academically and personally.”
As an Arts and Sciences student ambassador, Patel assists with Merit Weekends, K-Week, Admitted Student Days and other outreach events. She also serves as a mentor for underrepresented students in the S-STEM program for biology and neuroscience and STEMCats, a first-year support program for STEM majors. Additionally, she tutors students at the Biology Learning Center.
Beyond academics, Patel serves as the director of communications for the Indian Student Association and the marketing director for the Student Health Advisory Council, roles that allow her to advocate for students and promote health care awareness on campus.
A Future in Kentucky Healthcare
After graduation, Patel plans to attend medical school and return to Kentucky as a physician, ensuring underserved communities receive high-quality care.
“My goal is to give back to the community that raised me and made me the person that I am today,” she said. “People shouldn’t have to fight to be understood when they’re at their most vulnerable.”
Investing in Future Leaders like Palak
Patel’s journey is a testament to how the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences empowers students to become leaders, researchers and changemakers.
The First-Generation Trailblazers Fund provides scholarships and academic support for first-generation students like Patel, ensuring they have the resources to succeed.
Through One Day for UK (April 24, 2025), donors can help fund scholarships, research opportunities, and mentorship programs for students who will go on to transform healthcare and strengthen communities across Kentucky.
Make a difference today. Support First-Generation Trailblazers on One Day for UK and help students like Palak shape the future of medicine.