Mekala Neelakantan is a 4th-year medical student at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A California native, she graduated from the University of California San Diego with a Bachelor of Science in General Biology and a minor in Psychology. Mekala plans to become a pediatrician in the future and will be applying for residency this fall, with further aspirations to specialize in Neonatology. She is also passionate about medical education and mentorship in medicine, with a particular curiosity for developing innovative methods of teaching. Mekala’s hobbies include creative writing, singing, and competitive table tennis (although she is “retired” now). She can otherwise be found spending time with her significant other and best friends, as well as video-chatting with her sister and dog brother!

Twitter:@MekalaNeelakan1