What brought you to Canada?

My love for Canada began during my childhood. One summer, several students from Saskatchewan visited India as part of an exchange program and stayed in my grandfather’s village. Hearing their stories fascinated me, and I’ve since nurtured a deep interest in Canada.

After completing dental school in India and practicing there for many years, I eventually moved to Canada. I started at University of Pennsylvania Dental School and later joined the UBC Dentistry program as a third-year student. I then earned a Master’s in Implant Dentistry from the University of Frankfurt and pursued an MBA.

What did you enjoy most about your time at UBC Dentistry?

I vividly recall a Friday evening early in the year when I was still new to Canada. Our class gathered with several faculty members, enjoying beer and sharing jokes. This experience was markedly different from my time in India, where interactions with faculty were more formal. I cherished the connections I established with faculty members, who showed immense respect for the skills I had acquired through years of practicing dentistry.

Tell us a bit about the work you do outside of dentistry.

I’ve always been drawn to the intersection of healthcare and technology. I serve as the CEO of Vaccigen, a biotech company at the forefront of cutting-edge gene and cell therapies, as well as COVID vaccines. I also own multiple healthcare software companies and I am involved in various ventures.

I co-founded a newly established Centre of Excellence for Veterans and First Responders, offering diverse services encompassing dental care, primary and mental health care, physio-rehab, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain management, all under one roof.

What do you love most about what you do?

The people I encounter. I have a particularly touching memory from my dental practice. A couple who faced challenges with conceiving succeeded. After the birth of their baby, they visited the clinic on their way home from the hospital to make sure our team, who had been part of their pregnancy journey, met the newborn. Building these patient relationships is something I genuinely cherish.