Two members of the Wayne State University School of Medicine community were named Warriors of Distinction by the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, a university-wide recognition given annually to one student, one employee and one alumnus who have shown a commitment to gender issues and equity in their work and activities.
Class of 2025 medical student Aarti Patel and Obstetrics and Gynecology resident Richard Hsu, M.D. ’21, were recognized at an awards ceremony held March 4 at WSU’s Student Center.
At the School of Medicine, Patel has focused on making medicine more inclusive for both students and the patients for whom they care. She founded the Gender Equity in Medicine Taskforce to drive change in medical education, advocating for parental accommodations, maintenance of breastfeeding spaces, free menstrual products and hijab scrubs to create a more supportive environment for all students.
Beyond direct patient care, she has written and testified for several policies with the American Medical Association to advocate for women’s health and training inclusivity, including addressing disparities in pain management for gynecologic procedures and expanding insurance coverage for fertility treatments. As president of Medical Students for Choice, she organized hands-on workshops to teach essential skills like abortion care techniques and contraception procedures.
At the Robert R. Frank Student-Run Free Clinic, she helped provide care to uninsured patients facing significant health care barriers and coordinated a postpartum package initiative, providing essential supplies and educational resources to support new mothers in low-resource communities like Detroit.
“Across all of these roles, my goal has remained the same: to create spaces where students, patients and survivors feel supported, valued and empowered,” Patel said.
After graduating with her medical degree in May, Patel will begin her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the University of Illinois Chicago.
“Without a doubt I will continue advocating for women’s health after graduating medical school, from residency and beyond. This work is such a huge part of who I am, and I know I’ll carry it forward into my career as an ob-gyn. Whether it’s through patient care, policy work, or education, I want to keep pushing for a health care system that actually meets women’s needs. There’s still so much work to do, and I’m excited to be part of that change,” she said.
Patel was nominated for the student award by Dr. Hsu, who in turn was recognized for his efforts to optimize postpartum care. He established a postpartum outreach clinic in a women’s shelter in Detroit that addresses critical gaps in care by providing holistic support to women facing barriers such as a lack of transportation and socioeconomic challenges.
“It was a team effort from nurses, lactation consultants, volunteers, physicians and students,” Dr. Hsu said. “Additionally, I have found great joy in the opportunities of mentoring future physicians and advocating for evidence-based practices to improve women’s health outcomes.”
Dr. Hsu is an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at the Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University School of Medicine, pursuing a fellowship next year in Minimally Invasive Gynecology, with a special interest in tackling chronic pelvic pain.
“Receiving this award is a profound honor for me, one that comes with great Warrior Strong pride. It validates the commitment individuals, beyond myself, have provided to the women in Detroit,” Dr. Hsu said. “For me, it gives me great joy to continue to advocate and also seek different avenues delivering compassionate care while advancing women's health, particularly in addressing the critical disparities that exist in maternal care. This recognition inspires me to continue innovating and advocating for better health care outcomes, especially for our community.”