Dr. Sowmya Gopalakrishnan

I moved around as a child, so I often feel like I have three home countries. I completed my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at UBC, focusing on the sensorimotor integration of human movement and how sensory inputs are coded and processed by the brain. During this time, I also worked at the Vancouver Crisis Centre, training responders and supporting quality improvement initiatives to restructure crisis lines during a period of high demand and staffing shortages caused by the pandemic. This experience sparked my interest in healthcare access and the systemic factors that influence care – an area I hope to explore further during residency.

Neurology draws me for many reasons, but a key one is the meaningful connections that can be built with patients over time. I’m still exploring my subspecialty interests and am excited to see where residency takes me. I’m particularly fascinated by the impact of AI tools in improving access to timely care across the province.

Outside of residency, I enjoy playing racquet sports (yes, all of them) and practicing henna art on my hands.