STUDENT NEWS

Anand Sandesara

History and Biology Double Major Anand Sandesara Granted Rotary Scholarship to Study in Tanzania

"Because of my particular interest in HIV/AIDS, I felt that I would gain the most by learning in a region that has been hardest hit by it and other diseases." Doing good globally, Anand Sandesara goes where he's needed.

Sandesara, a History and Biological Sciences double major, has earned a year-long $24,000 Ambassadorial Scholarship from the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary scholarship requires him to work on a service project with a local Rotary club in the country where he is assigned.

While on assignment, Sandesara, who graduated valedictorian of his class at Glenbrook South High School in 2006, will take graduate-level courses in public health and apply the credits toward a master’s in that field. He recently learned that he will be heading to his first choise, Muhimbili University in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, where in September 2009 he will enroll in a one-year master's in public health program.

"It should be an eye-opening experience, especially from a public health point of view. Along with the health-related opportunities, the country has a lot to offer in terms of its natural beauty as well as its diverse population. Rotary has a significant presence in East Africa, so I'm excited about meeting and working with different communities," said Sandesara.

When selecting possible placements, Sandesara sought "major urban centers of Africa or South Asia—areas of the world in dire need of public health practitioners." A senior in the UIC Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions pre-med program, Sandesara plans to earn a medical degree after his year in Tanzania, and to then become a primary care physician, either abroad or in an underserved area of the United States.

Sandesara’s pre-med curriculum in LAS is both eclectic and interdisciplinary. Besides his major in history, he has minors in biology, French and sociology. "My history concentration is sub-Saharan Africa, so this will complement my undergrad studies, too." said Sandesara.

Sandesara is also president of UIC’s Alternative Spring Break program and chairs the university’s Volunteer English as a Second Language program. He has spent two summers in Study Abroad—one in Cairo, the other in Denmark and the Netherlands. While studying history and sociology in Cairo, he helped set up an ESL program for Egyptians.

Last year he worked at the Institute for Juvenile Research with Geri Donenberg, associate professor of psychiatry, studying an HIV/AIDS intervention program for at-risk teenagers who have been through Cook County’s juvenile justice system. He also has an ongoing internship at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Sandesara credits UIC’s diversity in helping shape his world outlook.

"My time at UIC has definitely prepared me well to serve as a representative of the United States because I have met so many different people from all walks of life that define so many different American experiences," he said.

"UIC really is a slice of the true America."

Sandesara is the sixth UIC undergraduate to win a Rotary scholarship.

Adapted from a UIC News story by Paul Francuch, October 29, 2008.