--- title: ‘Remarkable Humanity and Depth of Thought’ date: 2025-05-19T15:30:00-04:00 author: University of Maryland canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/remarkable-humanity-and-depth-of-thought" section: Articles --- # ‘Remarkable Humanity and Depth of Thought’ *May 19, 2025* — by [John Tucker](/author/john-tucker) > Medical School-bound Senior Honored as Commencement Medalist; She and Finalists Recognized for Scholarship, Leadership and Advocacy *Gambhir Vainavi Student Medalist 04172025 DS 1920x1080 — Biological sciences major Vainavi Gambhir will speak at UMD’s main commencement ceremony on Thursday as the university medalist, the highest honor bestowed on a graduating senior each academic year.* Vainavi Gambhir hasn’t yet enrolled in medical school, but she’s already making an impact on the health of children. While working with the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute’s Pediatric Oncology Branch, she authored three workbooks—on communication, education and coping—for children and families dealing with a bleeding disorder and presented them at two international conferences. During a Fulbright Canada-Mitacs internship, she studied rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer, at a major Quebec lab. And as a health care intern for U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and former Sen. Ben Cardin, both of Maryland, she routinely advised the health care teams and prepared policy memoranda for her bosses. “I want my impact in health care to extend beyond the hospital,” she said. “I want a seat at the decision-making table, advising on health interventions that put children first.” This fall, Gambhir will enroll in the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, aiming to become a physician and health policy advocate with specialties in pediatrics and holistic wellness. She will speak at the University of Maryland’s 2025 main commencement ceremony on Thursday as the university medalist. It is the highest honor bestowed on a graduating UMD senior each academic year, with a focus on academic distinction, exemplary character and service to the campus or greater community. Nominees had to earn at least a 3.96 GPA and 60 or more credits at Maryland. The biological sciences major and Rhodes Scholarship semifinalist from Bethesda, Md., amassed other remarkable achievements as an undergrad. While shadowing Jay A. Perman, chancellor of the University System of Maryland (USM) and a physician, Gambhir inspired his pediatric gastroenterology clinic to adjust its approach through clearer communication and ample space for questions with patients. She displayed “surprisingly acute sensitivity” with “remarkable humanity and depth of thought,” Perman said. Gambhir’s accomplishments go beyond medicine. She served as president of the USM Student Council, representing more than 170,000 undergraduates and graduates across 12 Maryland public universities, developing a Student Speaker Forum that offered space for innovative ideas and sometimes-competing opinions. She also co-created the USM Board of Regents Student Excellence Scholarship program that distributes $24,000 annually. In Annapolis, Gambhir serves as executive director of the Legislative Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus at the Maryland General Assembly. During her spare time, she creates award-winning acrylic pieces in the Indian subcontinent’s ancient Madhubani folk tradition, portraying children overcoming disease and societal pressures. A certified yoga instructor, Gambhir also introduced a yoga program at the NIH’s Children’s Inn, a residence for pediatric clinical patients, to foster psychosocial wellness. She called her enrollment at UMD “the best decision of my life, and I will forever be grateful. I don’t think I’d have this voice or lead in the way I’m able if it weren’t for this institution.” Read on for more about the four finalists for university medalist: --- *Lily Fleischmann portrait* --- *Briana Garcia headshot* --- *Anna Petersen portrait* --- *Swechchha Shrestha portrait* **Sidebar note:** The University of Maryland will celebrate its newest graduates at commencement exercises across campus May 20-23. Maryland Today will celebrate too with stories on the following: Thursday, May 15: [What to know before you go](https://today.umd.edu/umd-commencement-2025-before-you-go) Friday, May 16: [Student marshals](https://today.umd.edu/70-graduates-honored-as-senior-marshals) Monday, May 19: Medalist and finalists Tuesday, May 20: [Student speaker](https://today.umd.edu/student-commencement-speaker-plants-seeds-of-awareness-on-farmings-importance) Wednesday, May 21: [Fostering Terp Success grads](https://today.umd.edu/carrying-students-through-to-commencement) Friday, May 23: [Main commencement ceremony coverage](https://today.umd.edu/kermit-the-frog-challenges-graduates-to-write-your-own-ending) For more information, visit [commencement.umd.edu](https://commencement.umd.edu/). **Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community) **Tags:** [Biology](https://today.umd.edu/topic/biology), [Criminology and Criminal Justice](https://today.umd.edu/topic/criminology-and-criminal-justice), [Government and Politics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/government-and-politics), [Psychology](https://today.umd.edu/topic/psychology), [Commencement 2025](https://today.umd.edu/topic/commencement-2025), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience) **Units:** [College of Behavioral and Social Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-behavioral-and-social-sciences), [College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-computer-mathematical-and-natural-sciences), [College of Information](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-information-studies), [School of Public Policy](https://today.umd.edu/topic/school-public-policy)