Med-Sight - Dr. Satwik Kuppili

I am a post-intern, preparing for my residency. I have published around 15 research papers, with many more under review. I have been a part of CORAGE—the Sexual Health and Gender Norms Council in the South Indian Medical Students Association. I have actively worked to promote inclusivity and raise awareness about various STDs and psychological conditions among students.

The best part of being a doctor is being able to help someone regain their health. It gives you a sense of being useful to everyone around you. The medical profession challenges your intellect every day, which makes it even more exciting! I don’t know exactly when or how it started, but since kindergarten, I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. I never even played the role of a patient in the make-believe doctor game.

I was once an avid reader, but ever since I started preparing for residency, I’ve had little time to read anything outside of academics. The last book I read was The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. It was one hell of a ride—I couldn’t take my eyes off the book.

They would describe me as the funny, goofy guy who makes lame jokes but can switch to being an intellectual in an instant when required. Someone who never runs out of things to talk about and can contribute to any topic that comes up, but who chooses to remain quiet when there’s someone new in the crowd.

Like every other Indian kid, I played a lot of cricket growing up. I also played Kabaddi for my college at the university sports meet during my undergraduate years.

Anatomy. I just can’t wrap my head around it.

Physiology, Psychiatry, and Medicine. They intrigue me—it feels like playing detective to figure out what’s wrong.

I wish everyone had an equal opportunity and an equal shot at their dreams, regardless of gender, caste, nationality, or anything else.

Million Dreams.

If not medicine, I would love to dive into wildlife photography. I grew up watching Nat Geo documentaries and spending time around livestock. I love capturing animals in the wild—raw and unapologetic.

It might sound silly, but in 2023, I was selected to attend the International Neurosurgical Conference in Jaipur. My whole life, I had never stayed in a fancy hotel—I always had to choose the cheaper alternatives, and of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. But I had always dreamed of staying in one, at least for a night. The conference was fully funded, and I didn’t have to pay a single penny. I was allotted a king-sized room in a hotel-turned-palace. It was just me, in a luxurious five-star room, and I had made it there through my own work. It felt surreal. I know this might sound materialistic or normal to others, but to the kid who had always dreamed of this, it was huge. There were neurosurgeons and program directors from all over the world, and only eight undergrads were selected—I was one of them. It truly felt surreal.

I watch a lot of movies. I love escaping into another world for a while.

Not being able to roam around the world.

I would love to be a wildlife photographer.

New York should be at the top. Masai Mara, the Himalayas, Paris, Guatemala, and Japan are also must-visits.

A calm, hustle-free place that’s a little away from the noise of the city but still within reach of everything I need. Ideally, somewhere near the mountains.

"Try even if it’s beyond, but make sure you don’t fail for the same mistake twice."

I’m someone silly enough to make dad jokes, gossip like a kid, and argue over what film to watch, but at the same time, I’m the same guy who can talk for hours about black holes, relativity, medical conditions, clinical trials, relationships, kids, and family.