Back in 2021, Roshan Uruthirakumar found himself among most applicants who had not been accepted to Canadian medical schools. With an overall acceptance rate of only 20%, he knew the odds were against him. But after bumping into a Trinity representative who came to his pre-med club at Queen’s University, he discovered an alternative pathway to reach his dream. This pathway would lead him to academic success, new friends, colleagues, and, most importantly, opportunity.
Roshan is now a fourth-year medical student with a strong passion for Pediatrics. He was born in Toronto, Canada, to a Sri Lankan family, who immigrated to Canada back in the 90s. He was exposed early on to the importance of healthcare. His interest in medicine was sparked by multiple factors, including the care he witnessed being provided to his chronically ill grandparents. Beyond family, Roshan’s curiosity in science and love for problem-solving further solidified his path toward becoming a physician. His diverse background, experiences growing up in a tight-knit immigrant community, and early experience with working for the pediatric population in clinical settings, have instilled in him a deep sense of advocating for underrepresented groups. Aside from his experience in the sciences, Rosh also has a unique background of skillsets in business, operations, and marketing. These personal missions and his ever-expanding skillset have fueled his journey through medical school.
On the flight down to the island of St. Vincent, Roshan met another Canadian Trinity student, Kade Yaschuk, who little did he know, would become his best friend. They both attended Trinity’s white coat ceremony in the fall of 2021 and were able to meet the group of students who were soon to be their classmates. During his time on the island, Roshan was able to find himself and focus on who he wanted to become. In addition to dedicating himself to his academics, Roshan also found himself committed to the student body when he became Director of Finance and then President of the Student Government. After he completed his basic sciences on the island, he was able to move on to the 5th term at Warner Robins, Georgia. After passing his Step 1 exam, Roshan started his clinical rotations and became the President of the Student Government Association, for the 2nd time.
Roshan served his second tenure as the SGA President for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024. During his time as president, he was a channel through which the student body communicated with the school’s administration. Roshan and other SGA members have also been responsible for several events that benefit the student body as well as their local community. Some examples of these events include the Med Gala, the Research Fair, and the Match ceremony. Roshan also volunteered in a Feed the City initiative where he and other Trinity medical students helped raise a significant amount in funds and fed hundreds of families in the Middle Georgia area.
When it comes to research, Roshan has delivered several publications and presentations. He and Kade won the Best Presentation award at the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (GAPI) conference after discussing the potential of high-dose Vitamin C as an adjunct to Chemotherapy. As a lead investigator, Roshan has reviewed 35 preclinical and clinical studies to assess the efficacy and safety of High Dose Vitamin C as an adjunct to various chemotherapies, including Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, 5FU, Etoposide, and more. Roshan has also recommended guidelines that optimize clinical outcomes in various cancers, such as Glioblastoma, Oral SCC, and colorectal cancer.
In another research initiative, Roshan presented at the 2024 American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology National Conference in Seattle. He also presented at the 2024 Great Lakes Pediatrics Conference with one of his mentors, a Trinity alumna and Pediatrician, Dr. Gianna Guzzardo. Both of these conferences were great opportunities to present his research and network with other healthcare professionals.
Besides partaking in research, Roshan has held several leadership positions and manages quite a catalog of extra-curricular activities. Starting in 2022, Roshan became the Executive Member of the Curriculum Committee at Trinity. He was selected as the first student on the committee after developing the student feedback initiative, which allowed for transparent communication between the student body and administration. Roshan also became a part of the accreditation committee in which he coordinated student representative meetings, documents, and submissions required by the CAAM-HP executive board.
Roshan’s commitment to public service is also clear through his work with a community service organization. He is a Co-Founder and Service Projects Chair of Trinity Rotaract, a position in which he led community service projects aimed at reducing obesity rates, reducing tobacco use, and increasing access to healthcare. In 2023, Roshan became the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Practitionet, a supportive network application aimed at bridging the gap in connectivity and opportunities in the healthcare space. This marks the 3rd startup that Roshan has run in his medical school tenure. Roshan continues to develop this app alongside his peer, Alan Kalinda, with a projected release of the application in 2025.
Roshan is currently a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage. In his free time, he writes weekly newsletters called “Morning Rounds with Rosh” in which he discusses novel clinical cases and challenges to over 1,000 premedical students, medical students, and physicians. In a recent article “Energy vs. Effort” he discusses the paradox of productivity and how intentionality can help someone become more energized.
Roshan is now a fourth-year medical student at Trinity, has successfully passed his Step 2 exam, and most recently completed a Sub-I at Johns Hopkins in Pediatric Endocrine. Once he completes his medical education, he hopes to attain a pediatric residency, with a future interest in pursuing a fellowship as well. If you’re interested in learning how Trinity can support your dream of becoming a doctor, we invite you to reach out to our admissions team today! Contact us here.
