‘I can focus on how best I can give back’

Muthuluru said UC became one of his top choices in part because of its close proximity to home, close enough to visit Louisville on weekends but far enough where he can experience life in a new environment on his own. But more importantly, he said UC’s robust medical research and education program appealed to him.

“It was kind of a culmination of all these different factors that would provide me the best education for the pathway I want to be on, which is to be a future doctor or a future professional in the health care industry,” Muthuluru said.

While he already has medical research experience, Muthuluru said he is looking forward to learning from professors who are experts in their field and to utilize the research infrastructure within UC’s College of Medicine and at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

“The resources at the University of Cincinnati are amazing,” he said. “I personally am extremely excited to do research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital or the University of Cincinnati, and I know that both of those places are really good at research and really good at treating patients.”

An academically competitive program, Cincinnatus Presidential Scholars receive full tuition, fees, room and board and a book allowance for four years of undergraduate studies. Muthuluru recalled he received the email informing him he was a Cincinnatus scholar one day after school while playing basketball. 

“It was extremely fulfilling to see that all of my hard work had paid off and also that I was given this fortunate opportunity to pursue the next four years of my education on a full scholarship,” he said. “Instead of worrying about loans and stuff like that, I can focus on how best I can give back to the community, how I can do better research in the future and how I can volunteer at the hospital or start initiatives in Cincinnati like I did in Louisville.”

Muthuluru said he is also excited to meet new people with varying backgrounds and experiences.

“I really look forward to just trying to explore the world a little bit,” he said. “I want to meet a lot of people — diverse people — people who have the same interests as me as well as people who have different interests.”

Featured photo at top of Sushruth Muthuluru celebrating with his teammates after winning the Kentucky Science Olympiad tournament to advance to the national competition. Photo provided by Sushruth Muthuluru.