Pre-med journey takes student across campus – and to Cortona

Swetha Pendela's four years exploring just about every corner of the University of Georgia has included different clubs, majors, and international trips, but these unexpected turns have helped her find her direction. Now, as the double major in biochemistry & molecular biology and international affairs finishes her applications to medical school, her journey appears inspiringly path-dependent:

“I didn’t come into college knowing exactly what I wanted. It’s why I double majored. I wanted to cover all of my bases,” says Pendela. “I actually thought about a law degree first, but then I found medicine.” 

Pendela’s interest in neuroscience began in UGA’s physiology & pharmacology department. She joined a research lab focused on alcohol use disorder. Over the past two years, she’s studied how stress and substance abuse affect brain activity. 

“As much as I love my lab, I realized that’s not how I wanted to leave my mark,” says Pendela. “But working there was the turning point. It taught me about people and that I really like working with the brain, which is why I tuned into neuroscience.” 

As she continued to narrow down her future career, Pendela went to work as a medical scribe at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital, did clinical work at the Athens Heart Center, and volunteered at St. Mary’s Hospital.  

She shadowed physicians and learned about patient care in real time. Pendela looked beyond the test tubes and the science. She learned the importance of empathy and community in a clinical setting. More importantly, she learned how she could use those skills to help people. 

“Those roles answered the bigger question I’d been asking about my future,” says Pendela. “I didn’t just want to study medicine. I wanted to practice it. I want people to be at the heart of everything I do.” 

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Image: Swetha Pendela (with the red sweatshirt) and other students celebrate UGA’s Founders Day with balloons representing UGA’s age. Photo by Chamberlain Smith.