Fellows in the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, come from around the U.S. and across the world. While all of our trainees have a love of learning and a compassionate approach to patient care, they come from diverse backgrounds, family status, and professional and personal interests.

Jeel Gala, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Mumbai, India
Hobbies: Swimming, foreign language learning, dancing 

Why did you choose the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship program? The program’s emphasis on excelling both as a clinician and in research is highly appealing to me. I appreciate that it not only supports clinical excellence but also fosters significant research opportunities. Additionally, the program’s commitment to incorporating fellows' feedback for continuous improvement underscores a collaborative and responsive environment, which I find very motivating.

What do you like about living in Jacksonville, Florida?  The beach was a significant selling point for me, as I thoroughly enjoy swimming and outdoor activities. Additionally, the city offers a variety of fun places to hang out, which enhances its appeal.

Midiia Shuman, M.D.

Medical school: Medical Academy named after S.I. Georgievskiy 
Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, exploring different cuisines and recreating them to surprise my family

Why did you choose Mayo Clinic? It has a legacy of providing the best care to every patient through integrated clinical practice, education, and research. From the moment I interviewed here, it was evident that physicians and fellows enjoy coming to work here, and I am proud to be part of this institution.

Why did you choose critical care medicine? I love to get to the roots of complex scenarios. Teamwork and a multidisciplinary approach in ICU are how I always imagined practicing medicine.

Prabhav Vasistha, M.B.B.S.

Medical school: Armed Forces Medical College
Hobbies: Playing bansuri, the Indian bamboo flute, taking part in adventure sports and trivia contests

What do you love most about training at Mayo Clinic? At Mayo Clinic, I have the privilege of learning from world-renowned intensivists with diverse academic backgrounds. They truly embody the spirit of holistic patient-centered care, high-impact research, and outstanding mentorship. I am amazed by the state-of-the-art facilities available here to develop my professional skills, nurture curiosity, and facilitate career growth.

Is there anything that surprised you about the program? Despite Mayo Clinic's stellar reputation for excellence, I have found the faculty and peers here to be supportive, approachable, and humble. The program director and coordinator are incredibly sensitive and receptive to fellows' needs. They have made my transition into fellowship seamless and easy.

Raksha Venkatesan, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Chennai, India
Hobbies: Painting sceneries, DIY interior designing of homes

What drew you to Mayo Clinic for residency training? The versatility of training and exposure to multiple branches of critical care. My ideology was simple — after I finish training and go into the real world I don't want to be scared.

What makes the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship program unique? The faculty of the program and the eagerness to teach. The wide variety of clinical cases that you see. Exposure to transplant and complicated cardiac patients.

What is living in Jacksonville, Florida, like for you? It feels like home.