Prepared to Change the World Through Medicine

Rishi Gabbita '21 is ready to change the world. The young alumnus was recently accepted into University of Cincinnati's highly competitive dual Bachelor of Science/ Medical Doctorate program. He is researching how to prevent chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and he has secured a provisional patent for a smart pill bottle device to prevent opioid abuse.  

"Rishi sees things differently than his peers or most people his age because he finds rewards in work itself. He values the grit in others, and it is probably because he too possesses that grit inside of him...although he isn’t always aware of it," said Chuck McGivern, college counselor.  

Seeing things differently is precisely why Rishi wants to go into medicine.  

"I love medicine. I love that it is a confluence between learning about science, interacting with people, and making a difference in people's lives," said Gabbita. 

The program Rishi's been admitted to, called Connections, is a mix of undergraduate and medical school coursework and is early admittance into UC's medical school. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in medical sciences, Rishi will be directly admitted into UC’s medical school the following semester.  

"I was born and raised in Cincinnati. I've been here my whole life. I love everything about it. So, I think the opportunity to stay in Cincinnati and be able to impact the community that has raised me for my entire life is an extraordinary thing," said Gabbita. "During my time at Country Day, I was as involved as possible. It is essential for the current students to do the same. Whether in organized sports or the classroom, get involved and make connections." 

During his six years at Country Day, Rishi was captain of the Science Olympiad team, started his substantive research on CTE, played competitive squash, and always contributed in class. Only a year after graduating, Rishi already recognizes Country Day's impact on his life. 

"In terms of adjusting to my college classes, it was very seamless. I learned a lot of soft skills at Country Day that have helped me succeed so much already," said Gabbita. "Like the skills that you don't necessarily learn in a classroom, but by being around certain people and being able to interact with professors and adults. The skills I learned through the curriculum and independent environment allowed me to take steps to succeed. When I was preparing for my interview for the Connections program, I was able to lean on those skills, and that preparedness is a huge reason I got in."  

In the future, Rishi plans to continue his work with CTE and make an impact in the world.  

"I hope I'll be able to use my knowledge from undergrad and med school to make a more widespread impact on medicine," said Gabbita. "With the way our world is going towards rapid innovation and rapid change, change is inevitable. So, if you can be the one to make that change, then I think it's a very worthwhile pursuit. I hope to be one of the people who can make a positive change."