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Seven Questions with... Yash Mehta

4 March 2022

This week we meet Yash Mehta, who is in his fifth year of studying Medicine at UCL. Here, he chats to us about working in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during the pandemic and the top spot all fans of tech should check out in London.

Yash Mehta

What are you studying, why are you interested in this subject and what do you plan to do in the future?

I’m studying Medicine, and am currently in my fifth year. I chose to study it because I always liked the ability to positively impact someone’s life and the wide range of postgraduate options – from going into teaching and education, to surgery or management. At this stage, it’s difficult to say exactly what I’d like to go into but I’d like to have a career that involves teaching.

What is the most interesting thing you’ve done, seen or got involved with while at UCL?

There are a few aspects of my life at UCL so far that have been interesting! Firstly, I’ve been involved with Target Medicine, which is part of the Medical School’s Widening Participation scheme to make Medicine more accessible to more communities and help remove unjust barriers.

The second is working in an ICU, as part of the national medical student effort towards the pandemic. Whilst not part of what I signed up to when I joined UCL, the pandemic meant that many times we ended up in places we didn’t expect. This was one of them. It’s an experience I will remember for some time, and, work aside, I learnt a lot about patient care and how kindness in the toughest of moments is vital.

Have you discovered any hidden gems during your time at UCL?

Doing Veganuary a few years back led me to discover Mildreds in Camden – a must to try!

Give us your top three things to do/see/go to in London:

  1. If you’re a tech fan, devoted to Apple or not – check out the Samsung store behind King’s Cross station.
  2. Skip the tube or bus – if you can walk around from place to place, you’ll be surprised at how many small independent shops, parks, or cafés you’ll stumble across. If you’re into photography, this will give you a good opportunity to take a few good photographs, and hopefully your photos might turn out good unlike mine.

3. Go to an exhibition. Whatever you’re into, photography, history, or world affairs – London will have something to offer.

What’s one thing you’d like to see in a post-Covid world?

Fewer screens! I’d like to go back to being more sustainable, and less one-use only items.

Who inspires you and why?

My parents, grandparents, and elder brother – their sacrifices, guidance, and encouragement has allowed me the privilege to study at university.

I think it’d be unfair if I didn’t mention the countless enthused NHS staff who I have encountered during my time at UCL – their selflessness and dedication to their profession and patients has inspired me that no matter the challenges we face, anything is (almost) possible!

What would it surprise people to know about you?

That (un)surprisingly my childhood dream was not to be a doctor but a pilot, and a tiny part of me still wishes for this.