From Osteopathic Medicine to the Cath Lab: Dr. Boskey Patel’s Journey

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Step It Up with Dr A, Dr. Nivedita Agarwal sits down with Dr. Boskey Patel, an interventional cardiologist, to explore the unexpected turns, setbacks, mentors, and moments of determination that shaped her journey from osteopathic medical school to the cath lab. Dr. Patel shares how undergoing brain surgery as a teenager first strengthened her interest in medicine, and how her path later took her through psychology and neuroscience, clinical research, post-baccalaureate coursework, and ultimately osteopathic medical school. She speaks candidly about struggling with uncertainty, comparing her timeline with others, navigating the MD versus DO conversation, and learning that the road to becoming a physician does not have to be linear. Her career continued to evolve as she moved from an initial interest in surgery and gastroenterology to discovering cardiology during residency—and eventually finding her place in the highly procedural, traditionally male-dominated field of interventional cardiology. The conversation also explores mentorship, representation of women in procedural specialties, leadership, research, public speaking, and Dr. Patel’s commitment to raising awareness about cardiovascular risk in the South Asian community. Most importantly, Dr. Patel offers a message to students who may be questioning whether their grades, MCAT scores, rejections, or unconventional paths mean they do not belong in medicine: your journey does not have to look like someone else’s to lead somewhere meaningful. Her definition of “stepping it up” brings the conversation full circle: using your skills and gifts to improve the world around you. Support the show If today's episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your story. Share your thoughts in the comments or connect with us on social media. 🎙️ Subscribe to Step It Up with Dr. A so you never miss an episode. ⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with a student, parent, mentor, or future healthcare professional who may benefit from this conversation and don't forget to subscribe to the channel and join our FREE newsletter! 📩 Every week, I share practical insights, exclusive resources, and tools to help you keep learning, growing, and stepping it up. 📥 Join the Step It Up Community: https://step-it-up-with-dr-a.kit.com/...