Shruti Pai

Shruti Pai

Organization
Center of Excellence for Limb Loss Prevention and Prosthetic Engineering
Location
Seattle, WA
Shruti Pai
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Biography

Biomedical engineer Shruti Pai is making it possible for people with diabetes to live more active and longer lives. Her work in a prosthetics lab contributes to understanding how and why diabetes leads to serious and debilitating foot injuries.

Answers by Shruti Pai
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The allure of engineering is the fact that I may be able to improve the lives of many people with one single development. I am concerned, however, that I will not be able to have a direct and personal level of interaction with those I help,which is why I am torn between going to medical school or graduate school for engineering. Maybe this is a belief I hold due to my ignorance about the day-to-day life in the engineering occupation, but I hope that someone may help me understand more about this particular aspect of engineering.

This is a great question that I know many people within the field have faced, including myself. As an engineer, you are very likely to work with people in the medical field including doctors but you are less likely to work with patients directly unless you specifically navigate your career choices to do so. If you are interested in prosthetic and rehabilitation engineering, then you are likely to have the opportunity to work one-on-one with patients. If you don't want to be limited to this area of biomedical engineering and you are really keen on medical school, then you can always get involved with research and development later in your career as a clinician (after all, all the medical device companies consult with clinicians). Hope this helps!

Shruti

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I'm in high school and interested in biomedical, chemical, or maybe mechanical engineering. What type of math and science courses do you recommend me taking?

Hey Kelly, I would recommend taking as many AP/advanced level classes that you feel comfortable taking and that are offered in the math and science program at your school. Depending on your interests, chemistry, physics, and calculus are some typical courses that would be useful in most engineering disciplines and I would encourage you to explore these subjects if you are given the opportunity. I also think that exposure to computer science and programming would be helpful if your school offers any courses in this area. In terms of getting into colleges of your choice, admissions committees often look for students who are willing to push themselves and try harder classes as it is a good indication that you would succeed at a college level. Hope this helps and best of luck! Shruti