Anya Shah

Anya Shah is currently a rising senior at the University of Southern California, majoring in Global Health and pursuing a master's in Narrative Medicine while on the premed track. Anya has served on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) and closely with the City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles. 

Surviving Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) led to her purpose in life – becoming a physician-advocate to treat patients, research treatments, and advocate for healthcare equity. Conducting research at USC has taught her that the goal is bench to bedside, not bench to bookshelf. Every patient, every interaction, and every seemingly insignificant act in research, although tedious, may hold the solution to diseases and enhance patient care. 

Anya is excited to be part of the Cancer Grand Challenges Advocacy Panel because she believes that meaningful progress in cancer research necessitates the integration of patient voices at every stage of the process. Her motivation stems from a personal experience with cancer, which has imbued her with a profound understanding of the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges faced by patients and their families. Working with a diverse, global community of researchers and patient advocates aligns perfectly with her commitment to inclusivity and collaborative problem-solving, and she is dedicated to supporting the scientific objectives of Cancer Grand Challenges.