Medical Student
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Nandita Vegesna is a research year- medical student at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Prior to medical school, she worked full-time as a certified nursing assistant and private caregiver in a nursing home, where she witnessed how age-related decline, such as hearing loss and dysphagia, often marks a profound period of transition. This experience highlighted the vital role of otolaryngologists in managing chronic conditions in adults and inspired her research interests in optimizing quality of life for patients with hearing loss. Aligned with her broader commitment to supporting individuals through life transitions, Nandita serves on the Job Assistance Committee at Team TLC’s Kindness Center, which connects immigrants and asylum seekers in New York with essential resources such as employment, legal aid, and English classes. She is also involved with the Columbia Human Rights Initiative Asylum Clinic, where she prepares medical affidavits for individuals seeking asylum. Through these efforts, she hopes to continue building a career in otolaryngology grounded in advocacy, and longitudinal care.