Richita is a second-year medical student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Born and raised in Tsukuba and later Tokyo, Japan, she moved to the U.S. during her grade school years, first living in Michigan before eventually settling in Kansas. Growing up at the intersection of Japanese, Bengali, Indian, and American cultures has shaped her cultural identity and given her an appreciation for the different ways people stay connected to their heritage while finding a sense of belonging within new communities. She later returned to Michigan to earn her B.S. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan.

Her current specialty interests include neurology and psychiatry. Her experiences across different cultures are also what drew her to APAMSA, where she hopes to help create a community that celebrates the many identities and experiences represented within AANHPI medicine. When she’s not busy with school, Richita enjoys Kathak dance, traveling, trying new café spots, and spending time with friends and family.