Rahul Penumaka

Rahul Penumaka, from Hyderabad, India, is pursuing a master’s degree in translational research and applied medicine at Stanford School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree and bachelor’s degree in pharmacology from Imperial College London. Rahul aspires to tackle the global burden of cardiovascular disease through the discovery, development, and clinical implementation of novel diagnostics and therapeutics. He researched gallbladder cancer biomarkers in Thailand that aided clinical decision-making for patients receiving chemotherapy. Rahul served in student government, leading efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 on medical education. As an academic doctor in the U.K.’s National Health Service, he has worked for the last two years to enhance the care of stroke and heart failure patients. He was awarded distinctions in medicine and clinical practice and the Sancta Maria Lodge Scholarship for academic excellence. Rahul is a two-time recipient of Imperial’s Union Colour Award for outstanding contributions to university life.