Dipendra Paudyal

Dipendra as a medical student

Pronouns: He/Him

Dipendra (left) with his mother and his brother

• What kind of identities do you inhabit?

  Life was not the same for everyone. Witnessing social problems (caste discrimination, gender inequality, the dowry system, Chaupadi Pratha, etc.) practiced as a social norm pinched me a lot growing up. I recognized education as a bridge and a tool to overcome the issues. Beyond that, it was also a "LIFELINE," offering the only route to break free from the challenging, arduous life in that mountainous terrain. So education holds immense personal significance for me.

  I want to identify as an advocate of positive social change and an educator.

• The path to medicine is not easy. Can you tell us why you decided to pursue it?

  My path to medicine was not straight. For a large part of high school, I thought I would be anything but a doctor. Because, like most Asian parents, my parents wanted one of their sons to become a doctor and another to become an Engineer. My elder brother, who is now an anesthesiologist, was already in medical school. So by default, I was advised to choose a field other than medicine. But I took extra courses to keep my options open. During high school, I was also interested in biotechnology and genetic engineering. For me, I wanted to get into a field where I could contribute to its growth and hopefully change its landscape. The option to pursue medicine resurfaced when I found myself drawn to the idea of making a direct difference in people’s lives.

• Can you describe a challenging moment in medicine that made you rethink your career path?

  Throughout medical school, I was searching for something that spoke to me. I had an interest in the humanitarian side of medicine in addition to the clinical and academic side of it. The most challenging time for me would be having to graduate, undecided on the specialty I wanted to pursue. The uncertainty was anxiety provoking. My path to discovering PM&R has been in a way similar to Hansel and Gretel following on the breadcrumbs to reach the cottage home. Having no PM&R residency or a department in any medical school in Nepal meant I had to rely heavily on information on the internet, virtual webinars, and Physiatrists abroad to gain insights into this field.

  With PM&R, everything made sense. I found a specialty that I like. I found a field where I could contribute to its growth. My interest in the humanitarian side of medicine was met. And my passion for education had an opportunity to substantiate into medical education within Physiatry.

• How do you see a career in PM&R as advancing equity? Or alternatively - why are you interested in this organization? Why equity and PM&R?

  Change doesn’t happen without advocacy. I see a career in PM&R as more than just being a physician. To a greater extent, it is about advocating for people with disabilities.

  Representation in Rehab is the only organization dedicated to promoting PM&R among underrepresented medical students.I am forever grateful for the opportunity RiR has provided me with the mentorship program, media committee role, and website resources.

• Can you tell us a little bit of your aspirations - either for your career or for the field of medicine (if you’re a medical student?)

  I am passionate about medical education within the field of Physiatry. The goal is to contribute to the establishment of a successful PM&R residency training program in my home country, Nepal. Beyond this, I envision myself working as a medical educator and expanding my learning through organizations like the International Rehabilitation Forum (IRF), which is dedicated to building Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in low-resource settings.

• Find me on social media

  Twitter: @Future_PMR_doc

  Instagram: @dipendra_paudyal

Last updated 8/2023