ESP Biography

Brief Biographical Sketch:

Vineet Singal, 20 year old junior from Stanford University, is the Founder and Executive Director of Anjna Patient Education. Named after Vineet's mother, Anjna started out in October 2009 as a small initiative in St. Vincent's clinic Galveston, TX, where Vineet volunteered full time after taking a quarter off from Stanford. Volunteering at the St. Vincent's Free Clinic was one of the most profound experiences of his life. Vineet still remembers his last day at the clinic, where he and his supervisor were both talking to Ms. Martinez (pseudonym), a clinically-depressed obese diabetic who was on the verge of committing suicide. Vineet remembers talking to Ms. Martinez about her life, from her divorce to her estrangement by her children, and then finally to her present condition as a homeless person who couldn't afford to purchase her insulin. Vineet remembers talking with Ms. Martinez for about two hours, telling her that she had everything to live for, that she could write the book she had always wanted to write, that she should look forward to raising her grandchildren, that she should not lose hope because everything will be all right. Convincing her to not end her life was simultaneously the hardest and most meaningful thing he has ever done, one he will never forget for the rest of his life, especially Ms. Martinez's words to him and his supervisor, "I will dedicate my book to the both of you."

Since then, Vineet has found the experience of running an organization incredibly valuable, and feels honored to have worked with so many wonderful students, mentors, professors and most of all, patients. At Stanford, Vineet is majoring in neurobiology, and is taking classes in Economics, Public Policy, Philosophy and Political Science. He has been on and led Alternative Spring Break trips organized by the Haas Center for Public Service to Washington, D.C. As a regular volunteer at Arbor Free Clinic, Pacific Free Clinic as well as Palo Valto Veterans Affairs Hospital, Vineet also serves as President of the Stanford Neuroscience Society as well as the Director of Education for the Stanford chapter for the United Students for Veterans Health. One of the youngest recipients of the President's Call to Service Award, Vineet serves as the Health Coordinator for the Associated Students for Stanford University, and chairs the Honor Code committee for the Stanford Office of Judicial Affairs. In addition to public health, Vineet has over six years of experience in medical research, has been published in four journals and has received prestigious research awards from organizations like Intel, the College Board, the National Institutes of Health, the Society for Neuroscience, the Irene and Eric Simon Foundation and the Sigma Xi Scientific Research organization.

Past Classes