If you ask Sriya Babu, APMA Auxiliary/Antoinette Alfidi Memorial Scholarship recipient, creativity is at the core of her career. The classically trained dancer grew up with a passion for both art and medicine, two disciplines that find harmony in her dream field of podiatry. “I believe medicine and surgery are a type of art!,” she told the American Podiatric Medical Association.
A member of Barry School of Podiatric Medicine’s class of 2020, Babu earned the prestigious scholarship after years of study and practice. “In undergrad, I spent a lot of time working on research in the laboratory setting,” she said. As a medical student, she interned at the Miller School of Medicine’s Dermatology Laboratory before becoming involved with podiatric research during her clinical years at Barry. “Thanks to my supportive professors at school, I am currently working on a clinical case report of a unique pathology and surgical procedure we saw in the podiatry clinic.”
In addition to her clinical research, Babu is active in Barry’s podiatric medicine community, participating in clubs and volunteering. During her spare time, she explores Miami’s art and restaurant scene and has recently earned Elite status as a reviewer for Yelp. She says her passion and a strong support system at Barry has helped her succeed throughout. “Being able to go through this journey with friends I see in class and clinic daily is a gift,” she said. And it’s not only her teachers and fellow medical students who inspire her. “No matter how hard or long a day in the clinic was, there is always that one patient who keeps me motivated.”
Babu says her compassion and dedication to her patients make her a great physician, and her enthusiasm for her chosen field only continues to grow. “Podiatry is the hidden gem of health care,” she said. “I look forward to the fact that it is an all-encompassing interdisciplinary profession, which really allows you to personalize your career to best suit you.” We have no doubt that Babu will make her podiatric practice her own unique success.