APMA News - November/December 2020 - 49

Development Update

Highlighting Today's Most Outstanding Student Scholars:
10 Minutes with Nikhil Boga
Boga: The hardest part is the workload and
the knowledge needed to perform both
conservative and surgical treatment of various
diseases and conditions. The best part is the
community and the people who are always
willing to help me out, whether it is my
school's professors or my peers. I like to be
proactive and take part in various aspects of
podiatric medical school, such as being an
officer in the [American College of Foot and
Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)] student club, and
visiting conferences and events, like the
Sacramento Legislative Leadership Conference
APMA News: Congratulations on your
and the national ACFAS conference. I like
scholarship. What made you decide to pursue
widening my perspective and learning about
podiatric medicine?
Nikhil Boga
the other important categories of this field of
Boga: I decided to pursue podiatry for a
medicine, such as the business and political
few reasons. I was treated by my uncle, who is a podiatrist in
aspects, to see how I can thrive once I am a physician.
New Jersey and one of my main influences. He also treated my
APMA News: What qualities would you say make a great
grandmother, who was diabetic and having neuropathic issues. I
physician?
saw him sit down, listen to each patient's problem, and connect
Boga: If a physician is professional and approachable, the
with them as people rather than a walking disease. So, after I saw
patient
can feel relaxed and open to share concerns while
the quality care and improvement in my grandmother's overall
maintaining
the seriousness of their issues. If I can be knowlmobility, [these experiences put me on] a path toward podiatry.
edgeable and patient in the clinic, these qualities help me take
APMA News: What are some challenges you've overcome or
my time with the patient and understand their problem,
accomplishments you've achieved?
educate them, and make sure they feel comfortable and are
Boga: I took the Professional Association of Diving Instructors
treated with the best care possible, while also making sure that
Open Water Diver certification course in Cancun, Mexico. An
they can take care of themselves at home.
instructor and a few students went into the ocean, and I was
APMA News: How do you stay motivated as a student?
required to execute specific tasks to pass various tests. Early in
Boga: My parents have been my biggest supporters. They
the dive, we had to clear a bed of sand of potentially camouwould
always provide the academic, financial, and emotional
flaged fish before we settled onto the ocean floor. While we
support
I needed to help me get through finals and my Step 1
performed that task, two adult bull sharks came out of the blue
Board Exam. The friends I have made at CSPM, as well as my
and approached us. My first instinct was to swim away to avoid
college friends, have been helpful in teaching me to have a
confrontation that could lead to an attack. However, my
good work-life balance.
instructor taught me that it is crucial to not move at all; my
swimming could be mistaken as hostile behavior, and the sharks
APMA News: What do you look forward to as a podiatric
might have attacked in response. I collected my wits and
physician?
recognized that swimming would endanger all of us. Instead, I
Boga My goal is to run my own private, multispecialty
stayed very still, took deep breaths, and waited for the sharks to
practice that not only provides foot and ankle care, but also
swim away. I managed to overcome my fear and be smart about
treats the patient as a whole. It'll take me years to reach this
my actions rather than act instinctively. I realized I can overcome
goal, but I am confident that I will reach it with the excela difficult challenge by being patient, keeping a cool head, and
lent education and experience I get from this school, as well
thinking and acting smartly.
as the support of my family and friends. n
APMA News: What's the hardest part about being a student,
and what's the best?

Each year, the APMA Educational Foundation
awards scholarships to exceptional third-and
fourth-year podiatric medical school students. In
this issue, we sat down with Nikhil Boga,
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel
Merritt University (CSPM), Class of 2021,
recipient of the American Podiatric Medical
Association and APMA Membership scholarship.
Boga received his bachelor's degree in Biology
Pre-Med from the University of Texas at Dallas.

APMA News November/December 2020

APMA News - November/December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - November/December 2020