Kaushik

Puranam

Where is your hometown?
Durham, NC

Where did you attend:
• Undergrad College/University: UNC-Chapel Hill
• Medical School: Georgetown University
• Residency: Duke University

List your Medical and Non-Medical Honors and Awards:
• Fulbright-Fogarty Fellowships in Public Health
• 4-time Intramural soccer champion at UNCH

Outline your career plans in gastroenterology (If you know it at this point in your training)?
I am keeping an open mind as I explore gastroenterology, but I am particularly interested in transplant hepatology and health policy.

What were you looking for in a fellowship program?
I was looking for a fellowship program that offered broad exposure to every area of gastroenterology while providing the mentorship and clinical training needed to become an excellent gastroenterologist. I also wanted a program that valued the many roles physicians can have outside of clinical practice and would support my interests in research, public policy and advocacy.

What advice might you offer residents looking at fellowship programs?
Look for a program that will provide strong clinical training while also supporting the interests and goals that make medicine meaningful to you. Pay close attention to the culture of the program, the relationships among the fellows, and whether you can genuinely see yourself thriving both inside and outside of the hospital.

From your experience in fellowship, what have you learned about training at Duke?
I have learned that training at Duke offers exposure to an incredible breadth and complexity of gastrointestinal disease within a supportive learning environment. There has never been a moment where I have been afraid to ask for help which I think speaks volumes.

How is your life in the Triangle area outside of work?
I live about six minutes from Duke in a neighborhood with plenty of walking areas for my dog and me. Although I enjoyed living in larger cities, returning home to the Triangle has been wonderful. I especially appreciate the area’s abundant green space, quieter pace of life, and easy access to everything North Carolina has to offer. We enjoy bringing our dog along as we explore the Triangle’s food scene, and RDU’s convenient connections to international destinations are another major plus.

What is your favorite restaurant in Durham?
Ideals, M Sushi, or The Q Shack

List your hobbies and interests outside of work?
Traveling, spending time with my dog, pick up soccer/basketball, flag football, learning golf and following my teams, especially THE Carolina Hurricanes and many others (Panthers, Lakers, Chelsea FC, Cardinals and
all college sports). Don’t ask me about Duke vs UNC.