Dr. Raaj Ruparel: A Product of Teamwork
Class of 2014
Surgeon,
Mayo Clinic,
Minnesota
“I sensed that AUA believed I had what it took. I think at that time, they were the only ones that I knew who really believed in me.” That was Dr. Raaj Ruparel, class of 2014, describing the support that made him the general surgeon he is today. “I heard of the island and the program from searching online,” he says, adding that the enrollment staff’s understanding and enthusiastic approach coaxed him into taking up the opportunity.
A community that fosters you can be transformative. For Dr. Ruparel, AUA was that beacon of belief, the memories of his time there marked by the bonds he forged. “The most memorable experiences were studying with my close friends and competing against each other to achieve the highest marks possible,” he recalls. “At the same time we were supportive and reassuring. We were a group of friends, forming a community of people who held each other to high standards.” Those connections proved to be enduring.
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“The friends and colleagues that I trained with are still friends, and we talk often,” Dr. Ruparel says. The connections are a reminder of shared struggles and triumphs. He has something to say to the current crop of AUA students: “First piece of advice, if you don’t know, ask. Second piece of advice, always do what’s best for the patient. Third piece of advice, if you don’t know, ask.”
It’s a simple mantra encapsulating the essence of medical practice – humility, patient-centered care, and the pursuit of knowledge. Dr. Ruparel says that AUA training prepared him to adapt to challenging medical situations, “My training and the training of my fellow students was demanding with respect to the curriculum, but also demanding with respect to our ability to be flexible,” he explains. “As physicians, we treat people from many walks of life. It’s important that we can relate to patients from a variety of backgrounds.”
Dr. Ruparel has a lot of people at the university to thank for how things turned out for him. “I could name every faculty, but if pressed to give one shout-out, it would certainly be to Dr. Moreno,” he shares. “He was perhaps the first academic professor, teacher, mentor, who both believed in me and provided me with the tough love that I needed to grow and mature.” Beyond the confines of medical education, life on the island offered moments of respite.
“We played a lot of golf,” Dr. Ruparel recalls with a smile. “Studying hard was balanced with playing hard during our time off. That often involved 18 holes after a big exam.”
✅ Request information on AUA's MD program TODAY!
YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS BEGINS HERE
✅ Request information on AUA's MD program TODAY!
