Though he came to the United States to pursue a Ph.D., which he completed in 2016, Dr. Murli Mishra has found that patient care in a clinical setting has led to inspiring new opportunities. The proximity to hiking and other natural getaways attracted him to the Nashville area, and having research support in a collegial environment has made Vanderbilt a good fit for residency. In his free time, Dr. Mishra enjoys working on small biology-related personal projects, and over recent months, he has set a goal of diversifying his rose garden using hybridization techniques.
Tell us about your background and how your path led to Vanderbilt.
I was born and raised in India, mostly in Delhi. I came to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky. During my Ph.D. work, multiple mentors and friends repeatedly motivated me to pursue clinical work, as it would open new avenues for research. So, I decided to go to medical school. I completed my Ph.D. and attended St. George's University on the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada for medical school. I returned to the U.S. to do a clinical rotation in Miami. I initially matched for residency at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, but I was looking for a program with more research opportunities. This long-term passion for research led me to Vanderbilt in my PGY-2 year.
After your decision to pursue medical school, what led to your specialization in neurology?
As a drug discovery and toxicology researcher, I find the brain to be the most challenging organ system to target. Clinically, if any other organ shuts down, you are still technically alive, but if the brain shuts down, you are considered legally and ethically dead. Considering these factors, I thought, why not pursue a specialty that treats the most important and challenging organ system that makes us who we are? Neurology was not my strongest area; however, it was an area that would keep me intrigued and busy for 20-25 years, as there is still much to explore from a research perspective. Hence, it could fulfill my passion to be a clinical scientist. Lastly, while working briefly with Dr. Espay at the University of Cincinnati prior to medical school, I realized how much I love the personalities of neurologists. This factor further solidified my interest.
What kind of research have you worked on, both now and earlier in your career?
I explored many areas of research. I started my career with predictive toxicology, QSAR, and molecular modeling. During my graduate studies, I explored neurotoxicology, cancer biology, molecular modeling, and drug discovery. Since completing my Ph.D., I have explored Parkinson's disease, acute neuroimmunological care, neuroimaging, quality improvement, functional seizures, quality improvements, and vascular neurology research. Now, I am working on refining my passion for drug discovery and neurology again to explore how I can merge them together.
What attracted you to Vanderbilt?
I used to enjoy visiting Nashville while I was pursuing my Ph.D. in Lexington, KY. I love Tennessee because of the trails, nature, and hiking options. This love for Nashville and the research opportunities at Vanderbilt brought me back.
What have been some of the highlights of residency so far?
The opportunity to learn in a collegial environment is the biggest highlight. Our faculty come from very diverse backgrounds, which means there are ample opportunities to learn about new perspectives. On a personal front, it was great to have mentors like Dr. Misulis among our faculty, as his mentorship has made the biggest impact on me since joining Vanderbilt.
What do you consider some of the biggest challenges in residency/medicine in general? What helps you overcome those challenges?
The biggest challenge in residency was balancing clinical training while still exploring enough areas of research to find my next long-term passion. I love neurology, but picking among all the great subspecialties was a challenge. Fellowship application timelines vary significantly, and thus making a decision within a limited time period was extremely important. Clinically, the decision would have been easier. Thankfully, I ended up finding a subspecialty that balances it well for me.
Who have been some important mentors for you?
Dr. Misulis, Dr. Akkienni, Dr. Fox, and Dr. Lee have been some of the most supportive mentors over the last two years. The biggest advantage of having a department with over 100 faculty members is that you can always find at least 4-5 mentors who can effectively support your career goals as a resident. It’s very easy to find mentors who can help you in any direction you want to go.
What are your plans post-residency?
I am going to the University of Texas–Houston for a stroke fellowship. After that, I will seek a stroke neurology position where I am involved in both research and clinical medicine.
What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I usually work on short-term personal projects rather than having a long-term, well-established hobby. For example, one time I worked to build a self-sustaining fish tank without a filter. After experimenting for months with plants, probiotics, and fish, I was able to create a fish tank that was self-sustainable for approximately 6 months. It probably would have sustained longer, but I needed to leave the country for a prolonged period and there was no one who could have looked after the tank to ensure everything was fine. Hence, before leaving the country, I added the filter to ensure the fish's safety.
The most unique thing I’ve been doing outside of work in recent months is with my garden. Last winter, I took on the project of propagating rose plants with the goal of creating a large rose garden before I leave Nashville in June 2025. Usually, a rose is propagated by grafting. I already have several plants propagated indoors from grafts during the harsh winter, which I planted outdoors in spring. Now, I am trying hybridization techniques to increase the diversity of roses I get. This way, I have new rose seeds that will show me by next year what varieties I have obtained.
Who or what inspires you?
Buddha often said, 'Charaiveti, Charaiveti,' which means 'keep moving, keep moving.' Many times in life when I had to choose between staying where I was or moving, Buddha's words gave me the courage to move, even when it was riskier.
What’s a fun fact about yourself?
My name means a musical instrument made up of bamboo.
