Jay D. Shah
MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: I implemented an extremely precise treatment option for brain surgery, known as stereotactic radiosurgery, at a community hospital in Tampa Bay. This procedure uses highly focused radiation beams to destroy tumors without cutting into the brain. It involves efficiently coordinating a multidisciplinary team of specialists, understanding the nuanced particle physics that govern radiation measurement and machine characterization, utilizing the time and financial resources of the staff and hospital and coping with a smaller acceptable margin of error. I spearheaded this program, pushing the limits of modern technology and bringing patients a treatment modality that was not available within the community hospital. This ultimately qualified more patients to be treated for different conditions within a shorter timeframe and to a higher degree of accuracy.
HOW DREXEL HELPED: The School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems’ curriculum created a well-rounded graduate in medicine, engineering and business. This helped me find ingenuity in addressing technical and managerial obstacles. Radiation-producing equipment is complex and traditionally reserved for large academic institutions with deep pockets. These institutions are often located in big cities, leaving patients in the suburbs without a convenient option for cancer treatment. I believed multimillion-dollar academic institutions should not be the only places that provide high-quality patient care. I streamlined clinical processes and expanded the treatment options that physicians could offer their patients by designing cancer centers around Florida; this helped doctors build their own practices and gave patients a treatment solution closer to home. Drexel provided a broad educational foundation and co-op experience that was crucial in developing realistic solutions.
MY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: I envision bringing affordable treatment options overseas to impoverished areas. I’ve also previously collaborated with writers from “Madam Secretary” on CBS and Phantom Four Films (responsible for the “Batman” and “Superman” film series) as a consultant, and wish to continue my relationship with the entertainment industry to create more realistic and engaging storylines in television and film.
