The legend of Arash Shirvani begins in chilly Boston, MA shortly after a cataclysmic alignment by the nine (8?) planets. He would soon go on to live the majority of his life in Houston, TX, attending Rice University, and ultimately making the trip up to Dallas for his most grueling journey yet. Beyond all that, he's been known to enjoy sports of all kinds, brewing his own beer, various tv shows, music, long walks on the beach, dressing up as Aladdin, and Netflix.

The great Waxse Texas immigration began with my enrollment at Texas Christian University in 2004. Born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, I always thought that I would make my way back up north after college . . . but then medical school happened. With my family comfortably situated in San Antonio (for reasons unrelated to enrollment, I promise), it was an easy choice to set up shop in Dallas, Texas. While not studying - we're fighting hard to prevent this species' extinction - I enjoy volleyball, ultimate frisbee, website development, a superfluous addiction to Lost and anything else that keeps me busy.

Among the eight of us, I am the only native Dallasite. I studied a range of topics during my undergrad at the University of Texas at Austin, including economics, biology, and business. In my spare time, I enjoy the outdoors and love spending time in the mountains and at the lake. Anything from biking to jet skiing to rafting to snow skiing takes my mind off the med school grind and reenergizes me. This summer I traveled out west and worked for the Indian Health Services on the Navajo Reservation. I successfully welcomed some of my colleagues to Texas and look forward to seeing them at the Austin City Limits festival in October. I am known to start but never to complete movies and books, to display US weekly and The Economist simultaneously on my coffee table, and to run into at least half of our med school class at my beloved eatery, Eatzi’s.

I was born in Scotland, and moved to the great state of Texas when I was six years old. Unfortunately, my Scottish accent was transformed into a Texan accent, complete with the occasional "y'all." I grew up in Dallas and attended Southern Methodist University (Class of 2008), majoring in Biology and Spanish - which is in Dallas, and now I'm in medical school in Dallas. I love exploring Dallas, travelling (when I have the money - which is rare), and learning how to cook something other than Ramen noodles.

My name is Kartik, and I am a third year MD/PhD student. Unlike the others on this committee, I have finished my first two years of medical school and am currently doing research in a basic science lab. Why am I on the committee you ask? I was on the first-ever orientation retreat committee last year and had such a good time that I wanted to come back. Also, I am not delivering babies or taking care of sick people at Parkland Hospital like my old classmates so have a bit more free time. I was raised in Houston and attended the University of Texas at Austin, double majoring in philosophy and Plan II. I hope you all have as much fun at orientation as I plan to have.

The great Liu Dynasty had its humble beginnings in the great east Texas town of Longview. After attending the same school from 1st-12th grade, I left all the comforts of home for undergrad at UT Austin. It was a big change and took a lot of getting used to at first, but I eventually fell in love with the school and city. Unfortunately, Austin does not have a medical school so I ended up here in Dallas, but am glad I did. The first year of med school has been great! (maybe a little too much fun?...) In my free time I love playing pretty much any sport (tennis, soccer, basketball mostly), and am so happy there are still intramural sports in med school. My other hobbies include sleeping, hanging out with friends, music, napping, vegetating....

Born in the snowy cornfields of Illinois to a poor starving Ph.D. student, Paul soon made his escape to South Texas, growing up in the friendly suburbs of San Antonio. For college, he returned to his southern roots: Nashville TN, and Lipscomb University. Studies in music, education, and theology led quite naturally to the next step: medical school, and a return to Texas. Playing music, supporting the arts, baseball, basketball (SPURS) and most other sports, good food, the outdoors, and reading are among the passions he attempts to maintain while in med school. Paul’s love for travel has afforded him many adventures (Africa this summer) and great friends in all corners of the world—including some of the best right here at UTSW. He’s looking forward to seeing that you can say the same…

I'm a Texan who has finally made it back to my home state! I grew up in Houston but went to college in SoCal at Pomona College (Class of 08) where I majored in biochemistry and art history. I spent some years living abroad in London and one year studying at Oxford University. As far as hobbies, I'm an avid equestrian and love art of all sorts. I'm also a huge fan of trivia, word games (scrabble!), and bad TV infomercials. My favorite part of first year was definitely anatomy. I have no idea what kind of doctor I want to be, but I am having lots of fun learning along the way.