One Year Out: Kavi Gandhi ’25 Reflects on Research, Rhythm and New Roads

One year after his graduation, Kavi Gandhi ’25 is living in a new country and studying in much larger lecture halls, but he carries pieces of Davidson College everywhere he goes. 

Last summer, Gandhi moved to the United Kingdom to continue his public health education at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he’ll earn his master’s in epidemiology. He’s an ocean away from most of his friends, but living in the city where his mother grew up has given him the chance to connect with extended family and explore on his own. 

“I’m still getting used to being in a much larger environment,” he said. “But I love the international influence in London, both in my academics and in the city itself. There’s always something happening — free events, music and food from all around the world.”

A John M. Belk Scholar, Gandhi came to Davidson knowing he wanted to study public health, but it took time to find his niche. He gravitated to classes that focused on the human side of public healthcare and spent a semester abroad learning about global health practices in Vietnam, South Africa, India and Argentina. 

He returned to rural Argentina as a senior to conduct research and field work for his thesis on community healthcare. His Argentine colleagues collected data by going door to door, building trust between healthcare professionals and the general population. The community-centered approach significantly boosted vaccination rates. 

Gandhi approached campus life at Davidson with an open mind and a willingness to try anything. Encouraged by Professor of Music Emeritus Bill Lawing, he played drums in the jazz ensemble all four years and briefly joined a student band. When The Nuances, a student a cappella group, needed a beatboxer, Gandhi’s friend, Malik Ramadanovic ’25, convinced him to try out. After watching a few tutorials on YouTube and showing up to the audition, he got the part.

The Nuances became an unexpectedly tight-knit group of friends who Gandhi knows will keep him tied to Davidson for years to come. He’s only been gone for a year, but he’s already become someone current students can reach out to for advice about graduate school and moving abroad. 

“I’ve learned a lot about doing things on my own,” he said. “I’ve traveled alone to Spain and Greece, I’ve attended comedy clubs and jazz jam sessions, I’ve gone to restaurants alone and ended up befriending someone new. Just like at Davidson, I can find ways to make the most of the place I’m living.”

When Gandhi isn’t designing a public health study or adventuring on his own, his girlfriend, Sahana Athreya ’25 and friends Tim Schietroma ’25 and Steve Mirabello ’25 are also living and studying in the UK — just a train-ride away. Gandhi may not know what his next step will be, but he’s sure the Davidson network will continue to surround him.

“Being with Davidson people reminds me how special our time there was,” he said. “Wherever I go next, I’m bringing that experience with me.”