NEXT Innovation Scholar spotlight: Mallika Desai

Student advises others to seize opportunities and collaborate

From building health care innovations to collaborating with teams to crafting creative solutions with human-centered design thinking, the NEXT Innovation Scholars (NIS) program at the University of Cincinnati empowers a new generation of leaders and innovators. 

Spearheaded by UC President Neville G. Pinto, the program immerses students in interdisciplinary experiences across various industries and cultures of innovation, fostering forward-thinking problem solvers who embrace ambiguity with curiosity and confidence to drive innovation. Among the current cohort of scholars is Mallika Desai, Med '25, whose time as a NEXT Innovation Scholar has provided access to global thought leaders in strategic thinking and innovation. Recently, Desai shared her experiences and insights that she’s gained from the program. 

What inspired you to join the NEXT Innovation Scholars program?

Mallika Desai: Having started a nonprofit serving persons with Parkinson’s disease and seeing the value of multidisciplinary teams in solving everyday problems, I was drawn to NIS.

How has the program impacted your academic and professional growth?

Desai: The program impacts how I lead a team and the way I think about problems, particularly learning about the human-centered design methodology and field of strategy. I have learned to intentionally include the individuals I hope to serve, consciously beginning any venture by empathizing with the affected individuals. I am intentional and spend significant time thinking about building scenario-based strategy for my ventures. These skills have opened doors to professional connections with leadership in places I never thought I would have access to, unique learning opportunities and jobs.

Can you share a memorable project or experience from your time in the program?

Desai: As a pre-med student, I had a very specific exposure and way of thinking about the health system; by working with a team of  NIS students in computer science, industrial design and neuroscience, I had the opportunity to learn about the struggles that health care is facing in lesser discussed areas of the field, like rural emergency medical services stations, specialty pharmacies, semi-assisted living facilities, and food banks. I have also presented a health innovation project at a conference at Yale University with a team I built in the NEXT Innovation Scholars program.

What skills have you gained through the NEXT Innovation Scholars program?

Desai: Teamwork. Every team member brings consistent enthusiasm and a willingness to try new things and contribute. NIS taught me that leadership doesn't mean being the most frequent talker in a group, but often the person who listens the most and builds on others’ ideas.

How do you see yourself applying what you’ve learned in your future career?

Desai: I hope to eventually work in a health care leadership role that is a meld between patient care and strategy that leads to creating healthier futures for marginalized populations. However, I continue to apply the design-thinking methodology in any of my projects, whether building a dashboard for my biomedical informatics research capstone or building my nonprofit’s annual symposium for persons with Parkinson’s disease. 

What advice would you give to future NEXT Innovation Scholars?

Desai: Seize the opportunity to reach out to other scholars, older and younger. Being surrounded by 40 other unique, out-of-box thinkers who share the same drive and spirit of collaboration is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Have that conversation with the designer student, set up a coffee and learn about their interests and build those life-long friendships!

Featured image at top: Mallika Desai. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand

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Mycah Hill

Strategic Communications Intern

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NEXT Innovation Scholar spotlight: Mallika Desai

May 19, 2025

From building health care innovations to collaborating with teams to crafting creative solutions with human-centered design thinking, the NEXT Innovation Scholars program at the University of Cincinnati empowers a new generation of leaders and innovators.