Unfortunate circumstances can later turn out to be steppingstones to an incredible life decision and career journey. Dr. Dilpreet Singh, an aspiring Internal Medicine physician, grew up in an impoverished village in India witnessing family and neighbors suffer due to limited access to healthcare. Now an immigrant in the U.S. and one of six recipients of PracticeLink’s Spring 2025 First Practice Fund scholarship, Dr. Singh has channeled the challenges he faced growing up to a path toward sustained, impactful patient care.

Dr. Singh’s winning entry for PracticeLink’s Spring 2025 First Practice Fund described his commitment to building tools and systems that lower barriers to care, modernize education and strengthen trust between healthcare providers and vulnerable communities.

Dr. Singh impressed judges with his background, leadership, community commitment and forward-looking mindset. In his outstanding entry, he demonstrated not only a strong need for the financial award, but also a clear, actionable plan to use it to make a measurable impact.

PracticeLink: Why did you enter medicine? 

Dr. Dilpreet Singh: My journey into medicine began long before medical school. It started in an impoverished village in India, where I was born and raised. As an immigrant, I have lived through the challenges of limited access to healthcare, lack of education and systemic inequities that leave entire communities behind. I witnessed family members and neighbors suffer from preventable diseases, not because treatment didn’t exist, but because resources, awareness and support were out of reach.

These early experiences sparked a deep desire in me to be part of the solution. I saw medicine not just as a career, but as a calling‚ a way to bridge the gap between suffering and healing, between knowledge and empowerment. Coming to the United States gave me the opportunity to pursue that vision, and every step of my academic and professional journey has been grounded in that original purpose: to uplift vulnerable populations through compassionate, culturally aware, and equitable care.

I chose internal medicine because it allows me to build lasting relationships with patients and address not only their acute medical issues but the broader social and lifestyle factors impacting their health.

Over time, my focus has expanded to include advocacy, education and innovation‚ working to integrate technology and AI into medicine and helping others understand and access modern healthcare tools.

Ultimately, I entered medicine to give back. To the communities that raised me, to the patients who trust me and to the future generation of healthcare providers who, like me, want to make a difference.

PL: How have you demonstrated professionalism in your medical training?

DR. SINGH: Professionalism has been a core value in every aspect of my medical training. As a PGY-3 Internal Medicine resident at Henry Ford St. John Hospital in Detroit, MI, I consistently strive to model integrity, accountability and respect in both clinical care and leadership roles.

PGY stands for Post-Graduate Year and refers to residency training for medical graduates in the United States and Canada. The PGY system generally includes a number (PGY-1, PGY-2, PGY-3 and so on), indicating the resident’s year in residency training. 

One of the most direct ways I’ve demonstrated professionalism is by being a dependable and supportive team member. I’ve often been the go-to resident for peers seeking guidance‚ whether it’s clinical decision-making, residency advice, career planning or even dancing. I take that trust seriously and make myself available, ensuring I create a judgment-free and respectful space to support others. My willingness to tutor, review presentations, and share the latest updates in AI, medical technology, and clinical guidelines has helped foster a collaborative, high-standard environment.

My professionalism has also been recognized on a large scale. I was honored to be selected to judge research presentations at academic conferences‚ a rare opportunity for a resident‚ and served alongside my program director and chief of medicine. This role required objectivity, high ethical standards and a deep respect for the scholarly work of others. I was also chosen for the American College of Physicians (ACP) “Live Your Best Life” Leadership Program, which focuses heavily on professional development and advocacy.

Parallel to my medical training, I’ve led and competed in the international Bhangra and Fusion dance scene for over a decade‚ as a dancer, captain, choreographer and judge. Managing high-level performances and leading diverse teams taught me discipline, accountability and how to thrive under pressure‚ skills that translate directly to clinical settings. As a professional dance judge at multiple national competitions, I’ve also learned to give thoughtful, respectful feedback‚ an important component of professionalism in both the arts and medicine.

Whether on the hospital floor, at the podium or on stage, I strive to lead by example, treat everyone with respect, and uphold the standards of our profession. My experiences have taught me that professionalism isn’t limited to how we show up at work‚ it’s how we carry ourselves in every space we lead and serve.

Inside and outside the hospital, I’ve maintained professionalism while representing my institution at national conferences and within community outreach via formation of my nonprofit, the Sher Foundation. Whether I’m working with underserved populations, leading events or advocating for change at forums like the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates, I uphold the same principles of respect, responsibility and service.

In every setting—clinical, academic or community—I view professionalism not just as a requirement, but as a reflection of the trust placed in us as physicians.

PL: How have you built and utilized strong interpersonal and communication skills in your training?

DR. SINGH: Throughout my medical training, I have consistently relied on strong interpersonal and communication skills to foster effective teamwork, deliver compassionate patient care and contribute meaningfully to my professional community. These skills did not come naturally to me as English is my third language and as an immigrant, I had to take phonetic and English as second language courses; however through a plethora of experiences, improvement workshops and personal social therapist sessions I have overcome my deficiencies and turned them into talents.

As a fourth-year medical student, working as a clinical skills instructor at the University of Maryland for medical students, it helped me refine my ability to simplify complex medical concepts and adapt my communication style to suit learners at different levels. My role as PGY-1 Class Representative and my involvement on the Internal Medicine Specialty Clinic Resident Board demonstrate my ability to serve as liaison between peers and leadership, voicing concerns and advocating for improvements in resident education and patient care. Furthermore, as an Internal Medicine PGY-3, clear communication has been essential in high-stakes, fast-paced clinical environments‚ I have continually relied on strong interpersonal and communication skills to succeed in both clinical care and leadership. Whether coordinating patient care with interdisciplinary teams or delivering empathetic counseling to patients and families, I strive to be clear, collaborative, and compassionate in every interaction.

I’ve also taken on a strong mentorship role within my residency program. Many of my peers regularly turn to me for advice on clinical questions, career decisions and navigating residency life. I go out of my way to tutor and teach students and residents, often presenting on current clinical topics, healthcare policy, artificial intelligence and emerging medical technologies. If a resident is struggling, the program tends to pair up the resident with me for improvements in effective patient-physician communication and education. Sharing knowledge and empowering others are core parts of how I contribute to the culture of my program.

My commitment to professional development and advocacy has led to opportunities beyond the hospital. I’ve been honored to attend and present at national conferences, where I’ve built connections with healthcare leaders and change-makers. This network has helped me secure a seat at the AMA House of Delegates meeting in Chicago, where I will represent the voice of young physicians and advocate for positive changes in healthcare policy.

In an extremely rare honor for a resident‚ I was also selected to serve as a research abstract judge at multiple conferences, including alongside my own Program Director and Chief of Medicine. This experience was not only humbling but also affirmed my commitment to academic medicine and mentorship. In addition, I was selected for the ACP’s “Live Your Best Life” Leadership Program, which further developed my ability to lead with empathy and vision.

Across every stage of training‚ from clinical care and conference judging to nonprofit leadership and peer mentorship‚ effective communication has been the cornerstone of my ability to lead, educate and advocate. These skills will continue to guide me as I work to shape the future of healthcare through innovation, education, and policy.

Furthermore, my involvement in the performing arts‚ especially as a competitive dancer, emcee, and DJ‚ has strengthened my stage presence and public speaking skills. This has helped me feel confident whether I’m presenting at conferences, leading patient education sessions, or facilitating community events.

Altogether, my communication and interpersonal skills have been essential in bridging gaps between medicine, education, and the community‚ and will remain central to my future goals in healthcare innovation and outreach.

PL: What are your career goals and how will the First Practice Fund help you achieve them?

DR. SINGH: My career goal is to establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health literacy and access to medical knowledge‚ particularly in underserved, rural and economically disadvantaged communities.

The planning and paperwork for this organization is already underway within a group of similar minded individuals. This nonprofit will focus on updating and educating the public about primary care and chronic disease management, with a special emphasis on prevention, nutrition, obesity and weight loss.

We aim to incorporate medical technology and the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare to help bridge the information gap in these areas. Additionally, we plan to host collaborative events and outreach programs within the community to create spaces where people can engage with healthcare professionals, learn in a supportive environment and feel empowered to take control of their health.

These events will serve as vital touchpoints for ongoing education, discussions and resource distribution.

By making complex health information accessible and understandable, we hope to empower individuals to take control of their health and make informed decisions, leading to improvements in local and global health. This is especially critical in communities where primary care resources are limited and chronic diseases are prevalent. I personally will be working in a rural area that checkmarks the areas described.

To make this information easily accessible, we aim to develop a user-friendly website and mobile app that present health updates, medical technology advancements and AI-driven insights in simplified language and visual formats. By using layman’s terms and intuitive visualizations, the content will be tailored for the general population, regardless of their educational background. We also plan to integrate artificial intelligence to personalize content and speed up access to relevant health education. For example, users will also be able to enter their information and obtain personalized information regarding upcoming screenings, vaccinations, etc. that the individual requires or utilize calculators to obtain their BMI, risk of cardiovascular events, etc.

The First Practice Fund would be pivotal in helping us take these first steps‚ from launching pilot outreach programs and community events to beginning development of the website and app infrastructure. With this support, we hope to lay the groundwork for a scalable, tech-forward model of community health empowerment that can close the gap in health literacy and access across vulnerable populations.