Name: Varsha Katoju
E-mail: Katojuhosa@gmail.com
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Nicknames: Varsha, Varsh
Birthday: November 1st
School: King High School
Favorite Subject in School: Psychology
Favorite Food: Pizookies at Bj’s Brewhouse
Favorite Sports Team: Not a team, but I love Serena Williams
Hobbies: Painting, Reading, Photography
Best Book Ever Read: Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Pet Peeve: When people use things like GPA or an SAT score to qualify someone’s worth.
For 24 Hours, I Would Love to Trade Places With: Neil DeGrasse Tyson or Gordon Ramsay
If I had a Million Dollars, I would: Pay for my sister’s and my college tuition, buy my parents their dream house, and buy an office/clincal space for Firsthanded to expand globally.
My Most Embarrassing Moment: In 2nd grade I was about to go on stage for a chorus concert when I got a hairbrush stuck in my hair. My dad had to cut a huge chunk of hair from my head to get the brush off! I still went on stage, while being almost half bald.
Greatest Personal Accomplishment: Creating my non-profit Firsthanded, Inc. This is a non-profit that strives to use 3D printing to create prosthetic limbs for those who are less fortunate. We are directly changing people’s lives and that is the greatest type of accomplishment.
Future Discovery Anticipated Most: Biotechnologies Application in the medical field and the creation of patient specific products (such as organs) made by 3D printing.
Career Goals: I want to pursue a career in Neuroscience and Psychology. My dream job would to be a Neurosurgeon. At the age of 60 I want to retire and establish a clinic in a developing country and treat the impoverished population there.
Favorite Quote: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” – Lorax, Dr. Seuss
I Love HOSA Because: It allows myself and countless others to foster our career paths in medicine at an early age!