Riya Patel

Undergraduate Student Trustee

Term: 2025-2027

Riya Patel is a third-year Medical Sciences major at the University of Cincinnati with a strong interest in research and community impact. She has contributed to public health research with Dr. Butsch Kovacic, focusing on community engagement and the barriers that impact participation in research. Currently, she is working with Dr. Shankar to study environmental aerosols and respiratory deposition patterns. Riya is also a member of the signature Next Innovation Scholars program, where she is developing skills in design thinking and creative problem-solving—tools that have helped her approach academic and personal challenges with an innovative perspective.

Beyond the lab, Riya is committed to educational equity and compassionate leadership. As a tutor at a local school, she worked with kindergarteners & SPED students, tailoring support to their learning styles while fostering curiosity. Her role as a Patient Care Assistant offered another lens into human connection, where simple acts of reading aloud and creating art turned into a moment of care and fulfillment for ill patients. 

Outside academics, Riya enjoys dressing up, hiking, traveling to new places, and practicing yoga. She is also trying to learn how to cook dishes from different cuisines.