Shree Mukilan Pari

Shree Mukilan Pari is currently a student at UCLA, but there is much more to him than that. When he finishes his undergraduate studies, he’ll be entering medical school with a vision to make a difference. His plan is to use the great gift of education, not to further himself, but to serve the disadvantaged both in the United States and around the world.

An avid fan of basketball, weightlifting, and nature photography, Shree lives a life, not unlike other college students: He loves his school, his friends, and his family, but he has motivation and ambition that sets him apart. A series of experiences and opportunities opened his eyes to the possibility of using his education and skills to contribute to positive changes in society.

First, an anesthesiology internship at Ayesha Hospital in India after his junior year of high school made the disparities in the world’s healthcare systems immediately clear. In rural and impoverished communities, the quality of care dips drastically due to a lack of training and funding. Shree published research he conducted in the International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences.

The research was focused on the gaps that exist in healthcare between wealthy urban centers and underserved rural areas. These underserved communities lack adequate education for healthcare professionals and proper healthcare equipment. This results in a lack of access to safe anesthesiology in these areas, which exacerbates the problems faced by the healthcare systems in these areas. Largely due to that experience, Shree is working with doctors in rural India to establish nonprofit programs to address the treatment gaps in areas that need it.

Another experience at a prominent Indian University allowed Shree to use his passion and knack for research to contribute to the common good. While there, he helped conduct research into the ways that mangrove roots can protect the liver against the damage caused by long-term use of acetaminophen.

Finally, Shree spent time volunteering with the South Asian Heart Center (SAHC) in Mountain View, California. This experience gave him first-hand knowledge about the positive impacts that a career in the medical field can have. His volunteer work contributed to the SAHC’s mission of helping men and women from South Asia combat cardiovascular disease with lifestyle counseling and health coaching.

While his career paths aren’t yet mapped out yet, Shree is confident that he will be dedicating himself to social good. His biggest passions are driving him to work in research and medical capacities to solve issues of food security, healthcare disparities, and outdated medical infrastructures in underserved communities.

These are issues that affect not just rural India (where his nonprofit pilot program operates) but rural and urban communities across the world. Higher standards of care, nutritional education, and training for healthcare workers can change the world — that’s exactly what Shree Mukilan Pari wants to be part of.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

Currently, I’m a full-time student at UCLA, working toward my undergraduate degree in biology. I look forward to attending medical school, with the ultimate goal of devoting my career to helping underserved communities.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My typical day revolves around academic and research-related work. There really is no set-in-stone routine because the nature of school requires students to be flexible and adapt to an ever-changing schedule. However, I do make an effort to follow my calendar relatively strictly so I am able to get through all of the day’s tasks. I make a conscious effort to eat healthily and exercise to optimize my energy and thus productivity throughout the day.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I like to brainstorm all the time. Whenever I have the chance to think, my mind wanders off into something that I could genuinely explore. It could be any time really, from waiting in line for food or driving my car around. If a novel idea comes to me, I will note that immediately in my Reminders app and expand upon it later when I have more time. I do this so the idea doesn’t leave me and I don’t have to worry about remembering it if I am outside the house.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One trend that excites me is the incorporation of robotics into high-level surgery. One example is the increased use of machines such as the Da Vinci machine. These machines are extremely precise and decrease the inherent invasiveness of surgery. Additionally, they require immense amounts of skill, something I hope to be able to try my hand at one day.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive?

I’m always thinking of new ways to innovate. Complacency is the enemy of my personal productivity. Striving to be innovative aligns well with my goal of becoming a medical entrepreneur.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell my younger self to start understanding the intricacies of investment and saving. I would also tell a younger me to learn how to code in any programming language.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

The news media needs more scrutiny, accountability, and transparency. Accurate fact reporting is sparse in this day and age. This lack of a common starting point makes it difficult to have productive conversations that lead to tangible, real-world changes.

What is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Focus on your goals and don’t stop pursuing them. There will be many obstacles along your path but sticking to your plan will keep you on the right path.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your career? Please explain how.

There have been times when I have had to prioritize career work over everything else in my life, like hanging out with friends. Being able to discern when this must be done has allowed me to prepare myself and get ahead.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

College door delivery systems are on the rise. Students require some form of fast delivery system that is also affordable, especially as college life is fast-paced and stressful: this makes this type of system highly profitable.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

The best $100 I have spent recently was on an iPencil for my iPad. It is very useful and helps make note-taking much more efficient.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

The programming language R helps me with productivity. Its various machine learning capabilities and modeling packages facilitate my bioinformatics research.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I would recommend the novel “1984,” written by George Orwell. Orwell’s commentary on a dystopian society based on Stalinist Russia is masterfully depicted through an animal society and displays the real dangers of mass surveillance and totalitarianism.

What is your favorite quote?

“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning and focused effort.”— Paul J. Meyer.

Key Learnings:

• Focus on your goals and don’t stop pursuing them. There will be many obstacles along your path but sticking to your plan will keep you on the right path.
• Complacency is the enemy of personal productivity.
• Make a conscious effort to eat healthily and exercise to optimize your energy and thus productivity throughout the day.