La Salle was “the right fit” for biology major Anand Thakkar, ’23.

Formative life experiences can take place anywhere and at any time—even while finishing a crossword puzzle.

Anand Thakkar, ’23, visited the New Jersey home of a man dying of lung cancer, during the summer of 2021. The patient had entered home hospice and Thakkar, at the time a clinical volunteer, tried whatever he could to comfort the man. They talked about his life and legacy. They discussed the good he had created—in himself and in those around him.

“And we played lots of games,” said Thakkar, a third-year biology major in La Salle’s Honors Program. “We watched game shows on television, we played games and crossword puzzles. Being by his side, providing sympathy and empathy, was important.”

A pre-med student, Thakkar aspires for a career as a physician. He is determined to make a difference in the world. That starts, he said, with holistic care and soft skills, like those applied to his role in hospice care. 

“La Salle is shaping me intellectually, personally, and holistically,” said Thakkar, a Linwood, N.J., native. “Every physician needs to develop a compassionate side—the person, the spirit, and the soul inside of you—in order to connect with and best serve a patient. That’s how I approach every day.”

Thakkar has pursued his academic interests through several undergraduate research projects with La Salle faculty. He’s also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and La Salle’s Neighborhood Tutoring program.

Before choosing La Salle, Thakkar and his family had toured a number of universities. He was sold on La Salle after meeting with Br. Michael J. McGinnis, FSC, Ph.D., the director of La Salle’s Honors Program. “Br. Mike was the only faculty member I observed at any university who spoke with each individual student, asking about their major, hobbies, and interests,” Thakkar said. “When he spoke with me, I knew La Salle and the Honors Program were right for me.”

Thakkar’s father, Priyesh, ’93, a first-generation American, is a nephrologist who graduated from La Salle. “He definitely nudged me toward La Salle, too,” Thakkar said with a smile. Thakkar noted the strong outcomes that came from his father’s journey through La Salle.

“He found his calling. He found faculty here who helped him achieve his dream and embody the idea of the American dream,” Thakkar said. “I wanted to do the same. I got the feeling that, when I came to La Salle, I’d find a second family here, and I have. Now, I’m putting in the hard work to achieve something special. I’m on my way.” 

—Christopher A. Vito