Dr. Vanila Singh
Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford School of Medicine
“I am inspired by people who go against the grain and make decisions that may seem unpopular at the moment for the greater good.”
Read Dr. Vanila’s full profile below
What do you do every day?
I am a clinical associate professor at Stanford in the department of anesthesia where I teach and mentor medical students.
Why do you love it?
I truly love helping people. Being a physician I am able to get immediate feedback from my patients to know how I am helping them. I also love mentoring medical students as well. It allows me to not only guide and teach, but also learn from them as well.
What were your moments of fear and challenges in your career?
I believe that you have to take risks in your career and have the confidence to do so. Just because you are really good at what you do doesn’t necessarily mean opportunities will just fall in your lap. You have to have confidence and go out there to take on new challenges and promote yourself. For example, as an undergraduate at Cal Berkeley, my advisor pushed me to “do more.” I was initially a biology major taking a few economics classes. I loved my econ courses, so my advisor challenged me to take it on as a second major, and I did. I am so grateful that I took that risk to combine two different majors because it shaped the way I think and approach problems today.
What are some of the latest innovations in science that you are most excited about?
I am really excited about the latest research and improvements in ultrasounds that now allow physicians to see new structures and riche details of information that will not only change the field of anesthesiology, but also pain management for patients. For me, this is even more so exciting because I was trained in the “old school” methods, so I get to witness these new changes in the field and see how they will improve patient care.
Where did you grow up?
Bay Area
Who was your favorite teacher and why?
My advisor at Berkeley who encouraged me to take on Economics as a second major was one of my mentors who challenged me in such a positive way.
What is your unique talent?
Although some may not call this a “talent” per se, but I do believe I am an empathetic person with high emotional intelligence. As a physician treating patients, for me, my career is more than just a job or just doing research, but also is about connecting with my patients and understanding them in a deeper way. Oftentimes we undervalue the importance of emotional intelligence in how it shapes our ability to connect with people and do important work.
Is there a current book or book you love?
The Good Earth
What is your favorite website or fun activity?
I am a fan of the Discovery channel and learning about nature. The Discovery channel makes it fun and interesting, especially with shows like Shark Week!
Who inspires you?
I am inspired by people who go against the grain and make decisions that may seem unpopular at the moment for the greater good. For example, people like President Lincoln and Ghandi are definitely examples of people who went against the opposition because they following their beliefs to do what was right. It takes confidence and people who are willing to take risks to impact the world in the ways that they did.
