Meet Nishka Patel

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, Spring 2020 graduates were unable to present their capstones.

My INDS Degree

In the summer of 2019, I had the opportunity to conduct research at the National Human Genome Research Institute while meeting patients who were diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Gaucher Disease. I began to notice the extent to which this disease affects their daily functioning and wellbeing. Particularly, I became interested in understanding their lived illness experiences. While the biomedical model takes into account how illness shapes an individual’s daily functioning and wellbeing, an understanding of the lived experience of illness cannot be obtained without illness narratives—the stories of the patients, which reflect on the psychosocial as well as the sociocultural experience of suffering. As stated by Dr. Mantri, future and current healthcare professionals cannot take care of their patients “without accounting for both.”

Courses In My INDS Degree

✅ The Biological Factors: These courses will help me gain foundational understanding of the biological factors that influence the development and pathology of human illnesses.
(BIOL 302, 303/CHEM 437)

✅ The Psychosocial Factors: These courses will me analyze the psychosocial contributors of mental and physical health conditions and their significance towards illness experience.
(PSY 285,385/SOCY 351/HONR 300, 390)

✅ The Societal and Cultural Context: As part of my studies, I need to acquire an understanding of the societal and cultural context surrounding illness narratives and the human health condition.
(HONR 300/ANTH 311/SOCY 359)

✅ Individualized Study: These courses will help me gain an understanding of interdisciplinary through the integration of the areas of the concentration listed above.
(INDS 330H, 399, 480, 490H/ HONR 300/ STAT 350)