Inspired by his brother, Shroff is determined to help others in the world of medicine

Jay (left), Vishal and Iela Shroff stand with Vishal’s Presidential Scholarship. (RECORD PHOTO/ALDO AMATO)

By Aldo Amato

Staff Reporter

MADISON — After watching his older brother get very sick and miss a chance to graduate from Bob Jones, senior Vishal Shroff is looking to pursue a medical degree after receiving the Presidential Scholarship and accepting an offer to attend UAB in order to help people just like his brother live a healthy life.

Shroff said that scholarship will cover all of his tuition and housing and also other required fees. But the expenses being paid for is not the main reason why Shroff is excited.

“I remember when he was younger my brother used to be great shape, the pinnacle of healthiness,” Shroff said. “But all of a sudden he got real sick his senior year at Bob Jones and had to drop out his junior year just six credits shy of graduating.”

Shroff’s father Jay took his brother Pritesh to hospitals all across the nation to figure out the ailment but doctors were unsuccessful. After being placed on a special diet, Pritesh was able to recover to a point to where he could earn his GED, attend Athens State University and is now enrolled in the University of South Alabama Medical School.

“After seeing what my brother went through for those eight years, it was not easy,” he said. “So I thought if I could do something to help, I was going to do. I’m inspired to help people because I saw what a disease can do and how it can destroy someone. So I just want to be there and I’d be blessed to be there and  help people.”

Shroff said he does not have a specific concentration he is looking out and that he will get more of a feel when he starts taking classes at UAB. He added that his teachers at Bob Jones have made an impact on his life like his older brother.

“My teachers are great,” he said. “All my science teachers inspired me to pursue a career in science. They taught me well, they understood and I felt like I could go to them anytime and they’d explain any concept.”

Shroff’s father Jay, who emigrated to the United States from BIndia, said that he is so proud of Vishal and that the perseverance his brother showed in sickness has rubbed off on his younger sibling.

“He could have been defeated,” he said. “One man can make a difference and an influence in one person’s life. [Pritesh] has been through so much and he was determined with the willpower to go to medical school and I see that in my Vishal.”

Vishal said that he still keeps in contact with his brother almost every day and that he will seek his advice as he transitions into college life next year.