Inspired by her younger brother’s battle with cancer, Yashaswi Parikh’s journey from Rowan undergraduate to physician comes full circle.
In 2021, Yashaswi Parikh was preparing to graduate from Rowan University with a clear vision for her future.
“In the next five to 10 years, I see myself as a successful pediatrician,” she shared in a Rowan Blog interview.
Five years later, that dream is becoming reality.
In 2026, Parikh graduated from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, completing a seven-year educational journey shaped by determination, family and the lasting influence of her younger brother, Om.
But for Parikh, becoming a doctor has always meant something more than earning a degree.
A Brother’s Lasting Inspiration
Parikh was just 15 years old when her younger brother, Om, was diagnosed with cancer. He was only 10.
Over the next three years, her family experienced the emotional challenges of his treatment, periods of remission and the devastating return of his cancer. Om passed away during Parikh’s senior year of high school.
Despite everything he faced, she remembers her brother for his unwavering positivity.
“Throughout the three years that he battled cancer, he was always smiling and thinking positively,” Parikh recalled in her original Rowan Blog interview.
Their relationship was filled with the ordinary moments that make sibling bonds special, including a childhood agreement that neither would ever get married. They even drafted and signed a contract outlining what each would owe the other if they broke their promise.
Those memories remain an important part of who Parikh is today.
Although she had wanted to become a pediatrician since childhood, watching Om and her family navigate his illness gave that ambition a deeper meaning.
“This was something I always wanted to do. I always wanted to be a pediatrician,” she explained. “It isn’t all stickers and lollipops … it just solidified my purpose for wanting to pursue pediatrics and hopefully pediatric oncology.”
In Om’s memory, Parikh also established the Om Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting children with cancer.
Seven Years of Learning, Growth and Purpose
Parikh began her Rowan journey as a biological sciences major and Spanish minor in the University’s 3+4 BS/DO program, which provided a pathway from undergraduate study to medical school.
As an undergraduate, she embraced opportunities beyond the classroom, conducting research, participating in the Honors program and co-founding the Rowan South Asian Students Association.
“The best part about Rowan is the people,” Parikh said. “And that doesn’t just mean the students but also the admin and the faculty who work there.”
She continued her education at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, where the demands of medical training challenged her in new ways.
“Med school is tough,” Parikh said. “I think a lot of people describe it as trying to drink water through a fire hose, and I feel like even that doesn’t really capture how tough it really is.”
But as she progressed from classroom learning to clinical rotations, the years of studying began to take on new meaning.
During her final year, Parikh completed a pediatric oncology rotation at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, an experience that connected her professional aspirations with her family’s personal history.
“I got to work with patients just like my brother directly and connect with families just like mine,” she said.
For Parikh, the experience reinforced the kind of physician she hopes to become: one who understands not only the medical challenges facing young patients, but also the emotional experiences of the families standing beside them.
A Moment Years in the Making
In March 2026, Parikh reached one of the most anticipated milestones in medical education: Match Day.
Each year, graduating medical students across the country learn where they will complete their residency training, marking the next major step in their careers.
For Parikh, the moment carried the weight of years of preparation, uncertainty and personal sacrifice.
“This is like the moment I’ve been working my entire life for,” she said while waiting to open her envelope.
Surrounded by family, friends and fellow medical students, Parikh celebrated the culmination of years of hard work.
For her parents, the day was equally emotional. They had watched their daughter navigate the loss of her brother, pursue her education and remain committed to a dream that began long before medical school.
But amid the celebration, Parikh’s thoughts returned to Om.
“I think he would just say that he’s proud of me,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have been able to get through this process without him, even though he’s not physically here.”
His influence, she explained, helped carry her through the most challenging moments of medical school.
“Having that reminder of who he was and the positive attitude that he carried has gotten me through so many tough days in med school.”
From a Dream to Dr. Parikh
Just weeks after Match Day, Parikh crossed another milestone: graduating from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine and earning the title of doctor.
The moment brought her seven-year Rowan journey full circle.
When she first appeared on Rowan Blog in 2021, Parikh was an undergraduate student looking toward medical school and imagining a future in pediatrics.
Five years later, she had earned her medical degree and was preparing for the next chapter of her training.
Through it all, the inspiration behind her journey remained the same.
For Parikh, medicine is not simply about treating a diagnosis. It’s about understanding the people behind it, offering compassion during difficult moments and making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and their families.
“Having the firsthand experience of seeing my brother and my family go through a cancer diagnosis,” she reflected, “you don’t have to change the entire world. You can change the world for one patient and one family. And that could be enough.”
Five years ago, Yashaswi Parikh shared her dream of becoming a pediatrician.
Today, as Dr. Parikh, she’s one step closer to fulfilling it — carrying her brother’s memory into every chapter that comes next.
About Rowan
Since its founding in 1923, Rowan University has evolved from a teacher preparation college to a public research institution ranked among the top 100 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Rowan University offers bachelor’s through doctoral degrees and professional certificates in person and online to nearly 25,000 students through its main campus in Glassboro and its eight other locations in southern New Jersey. Rowan focuses on practical research at the intersection of health care, engineering, science and business, while ensuring excellence in undergraduate education. The University has earned national recognition for innovation; commitment to high-quality, affordable education; and the development of public-private partnerships. A Carnegie-classified R2 (high research activity) institution, Rowan is the fastest-growing public research university in the Northeast and among the nation’s top 10 fastest-growing, as reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education. In 2025, Rowan opened New Jersey’s only veterinary school and is one of only two universities in the nation to offer M.D., D.O., and D.V.M. medical degrees.