One year later and a step closer to a medical career: Aditya Tyagi (KEYS ‘25)
From starting a healthcare nonprofit to working in a cardiovascular research lab, Phoenix local Aditya Tyagi wants to use what he learned during KEYS to pursue medicine.
Aditya Tyagi is building on his passion for improving healthcare and 2025 KEYS experience to pursue a medical career starting in fall 2026 at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.
One year after completing the BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Research Internship, Aditya Tyagi is poised to begin the next chapter of his medical career.
"KEYS was one of the most impactful experiences of my high school journey because it introduced me to the intersection of research, medicine and community impact," said Tyagi.
From conducting cardiovascular research as part of the inaugural KEYS cohort in Phoenix to earning admission into the highly selective University of Arizona BS/MD program, he has built upon the curiosity, resilience and passion for service that first flourished during his summer research internship.
Making a difference through improving healthcare access
Even before KEYS, Tyagi knew he wanted to pursue a career in medicine from the desire to improve access to healthcare.
In 2022 as a high school student, Tyagi founded the nonprofit Connect2Health, aimed to improve healthcare access for the underserved, unhoused and uninsured communities in Arizona. The organization partners with community health centers, free clinics and nonprofit organizations to provide necessities such as food, clothing, clean water and hygiene products to those in need.
Through Connect2Health, Tyagi witnessed how barriers affect patient outcomes, and hopes by studying medicine he can change that.
"Medicine brings together the things I value most: science, service, problem-solving and human connection," he said.
Aditya Tyagi (top left) was part of the inaugural Phoenix cohort for the BIO5 Institute’s KEYS Internship working in the lab of Taben Hale at the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix.
Connecting research to medicine
Through seven weeks of hands-on research alongside University of Arizona researchers in 2025, KEYS provided Tyagi the laboratory experience, scientific skills and confidence that helped solidify his path toward a medical career.
Working in the lab of Taben Hale, professor and vice chair of Basic Medical Sciences and associate dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, Tyagi contributed to research that studies how high blood pressure (hypertension) affects heart health.
He was fascinated by his first laboratory experience—from learning western blotting, a technique used to detect specific proteins in cells, to microscopy examining heart tissue. By studying the biological processes behind heart disease and exploring the research side of medicine, he felt more driven to a clinical path that addresses complex health challenges such as cardiovascular disease.
“Seeing those connections helped me understand how research in the lab can relate to real health conditions that affect patients every day,” said Tyagi.
Aditya Tyagi received the Yale Science and Engineering Association Award for his research poster at the 2025 Arizona Science and Engineering Fair.
After KEYS, Tyagi returned to Chaparral High School in Scottsdale to finish high school and apply to BS/MD programs across the country.
“My research experiences since KEYS have helped me discover what excites me most: using science and research to address real-world health challenges and improve the lives of others," he said.
After receiving multiple acceptances, he committed to the University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson Accelerated Pathway to Medical Education (APME) on full ride merit scholarship and will start in fall 2026.
Aditya Tyagi (left) receives his certificate of completion at the end of his KEYS Research Internship from Shirin Doroudgar, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
Taking lessons from KEYS into the future
One of the most valuable lessons Tyagi learned from KEYS was patience—research rarely goes according to plan.
“There were plenty of times when experiments didn't work or results weren't what I expected, but those moments taught me the importance of patience, persistence and learning from setbacks,” he said.
Tyagi is eager to continue exploring research, public health, and community engagement as a University of Arizona student. He hopes to use what he learned during KEYS to not only expand his work with Connect2Health, but also explore opportunities in cardiovascular health, neuroscience and preventive medicine.