Worcester, Massachusetts, USA: In a remarkable act of compassion, Indian-origin student Mukund Desibhatla donated blood stem cells during his very first week at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts.
According to the university’s press release, Desibhatla travelled from Worcester to Boston to make the donation through the National Marrow Donation Program (NMDP). His donation coincided with the start of his medical studies, making it a symbolic beginning to his journey in medicine.
“The timing of my donation with the start of medical school serves as a reminder of the values of compassion, service, and dedication that are central to the medical profession,” Desibhatla said in an interview with the university press.
Originally born in Dallas, Texas, Desibhatla moved to San Antonio when his mother, Dr Anasuya Gunturi, began her own journey in medicine, studying haematology and oncology. The family later settled in Newton, Massachusetts, after she joined Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston for her residency.
“It feels like everything has come full circle — beginning medical school exactly 20 years after my mother did,” he reflected, crediting his mother’s experience for inspiring his path in medicine.
Desibhatla first joined the NMDP registry as a junior in college. Six years later, while vacationing in Colombia, he received news that he had matched with a cancer patient in another country — a rare occurrence, as only about 0.03% of donors are ever called to donate.
“Getting daily filgrastim shots during orientation and travelling to Boston for the actual procedure was physically demanding, but giving someone the chance to live is the greatest honour possible,” he said.
Beyond medicine, Desibhatla is also a talented filmmaker and musician. His documentary “African Wave”, co-produced with a colleague, was recognised by the World Health Organisation in 2024 for its portrayal of the war in Ukraine. He also founded and leads Riyaaz, a South Asian classical fusion group that regularly performs at cultural events, including Diwali celebrations.
The National Marrow Donation Program will hold a donor registration event at UMass Chan’s Albert Sherman Centre on October 16.
Desibhatla holds a Master of Public Health from Yale University and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Connecticut, where he double-majored in Spanish and Physiology & Neurobiology.
