Swathi Kiran is an Associate Professor at Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Boston University, is the Director of the Aphasia Research Laboratory, and the Research Director of the Aphasia Resource Center at Boston University. She is a world-renowned expert in rehabilitation after stroke and in understanding neuroplasticity of language recovery. She has over 50 published papers on clinical research and has editorial responsibilities for several key journals in the field including the American Journal of Speech Language Pathology and Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research. Dr. Kiran is the recipient of numerous grants and awards from the National Institutes of Health and she also serves as a standing member on an NIH grant review panel. She is a fellow of the American Speech and Hearing Association and served on the Research and Scientific Affairs Committee for ASHA. Prof Kiran received her M.A and Ph.D from Northwestern University. She also is the founder and Chief Scientist of Constant Therapy, a healthcare IT start-up company.

I sat down with Swathi to talk about her passion for Science, her involvement in mentoring  and her research interest.

Describe the work that you do?

I am a clinician-neuroscientist, I study how the brain recovers language after a stroke/brain damage. So I study neuroplasticity in the brain by conducting imaging experiments that allow us to see the  brain and its plasticity as people recover their language. I am a professor, researcher, teacher, entrepreneur and clinician.I teach students to become successful clinicians and care for their patients, I teach young researchers to ask meaningful and scientifically valid questions, I see patients to help them recover their language skills and I conduct my own research to explore the insights of the brain.

Why did you chose to pursue your particular career path?

I have always been intrigued by the brain- when I was in high school I became interested in how we dream and form memories and have been fascinated/obsessed with the brain since. Somehow, I found my way to studying language loss (aphasia) as an undergraduate student and have been hooked on this topic since then. It is coincidental and fortunate that that the work I do helps people who have had a stroke, so my work has an impact on people’s lives on a daily basis and I am just grateful for that opportunity.

What are the personal /environmental attributes that have helped you succeed in your career?

From the time I was a little child, I have always been very independent person. When I was only five years old, my parents sent me and my sister to India from Tanzania for our summer vacation alone. The first time I came to the US to start graduate school, I spent a few days traveling around England by myself.  Growing up in different countries and cultures has taught me to be very adaptable and flexible. I am generally an optimistic person and I don’t take no for an answer- so things are always possible, you just have to figure out how to get there.

 What challenges if any have you faced in your career path?

Everyone faces challenges in their career path, as an academic, you are faced with the usual obstacles of funding, resources, opportunities, etc but I have always been fortunate to have some good role models and mentors who have shown me that perseverance and persistence are two very important virtues.

What advice would you give women trying to follow your career path?

I provide career advice to many many young women entering academia- I always tell them that (1) you have to be passionate about what you do, whether it is teaching/research/clinical work, (2) be extremely self-disciplined about pursuing and following career goals and (3) it is possible to have work-life balance in academia. I see several women following my career path and succeeding in academia. I tend to agree with Sheryl Sandberg in her book Lean In, those who do not succeed may have themselves to blame than anyone else. Be confident and speak up. 

What lasting impact do you expect from your work?

I am at a very interesting and exciting point in my career. As a researcher, I am doing cutting edge work in the field of neuroplasticity, in the time where there is a new found interest in the brain (Obama’s new BRAIN initiative). My research laboratory is one of the few labs in the world that examines neuroplasticity in the brain after rehabilitation. As an entrepreneur (Constant Therapy) I can see the impact of my work influencing patients’ everyday lives. The work that we are doing at Constant Therapy is disrupting the current way that brain rehabilitation is provided, and will change rehabilitation/healthcare not only in the US but across the world.

 What is the secret to your maintaining a work -life balance?

I have very clear priorities 1. My family/home, 2) My research, 3) Other aspects of my life. I plan everything in advance and compartmentalize my time/schedule. Also, I very much live in the moment, I try to spend every day like it was the last day on the earth.

 What is your approach to parenting? Any special advice you have for women on parenting of sons and daughters?

I have two young sons, and I am a very hands-on parent (I get them ready for school, I take them to school, help them with their homework). I like to think that I am my boys’ friend and mother. We do a lot of fun things together all the time, and I enjoy every minute with them as if I was their age. At the same, I want them to grow up in a multi-ethnic environment, therefore, we try to infuse different cultures into our lives every day.

 What activities outside of work are you involved in ? (Charity, arts , community service etc)

I am involved in the childrens’ school activities and Indian cultural activities. In my professional life, I am involved in a lot of mentoring of young women (I organize a lot of mentoring events, training the next generation of scientists etc) and I tend to do that with my children too (science fairs etc). 

What do you do for fun?

I love travelling and seeing new places, and luckily for me (because of my job), there are very few places in the world that I have not yet seen. I also love astronomy, living in Lexington makes it hard to check out the stars, but I love looking into our telescope into far away galaxies.

Who are the People who you admire/ inspired /emulate?

I have had several women role-models in my life who are strong, independent and decisive women. My mother is at the top of that list, and has shown me that ambition, independence, self-discipline and humility can all go together in one package.

 What kind of support have you valued most from your husband?

My husband is my best friend, has been my best friend since we met when I first came to this country. We are equal partners in our relationship and we respect each other’s strength/weaknesses and tag-team very well. Even though we are completely different personalities, we are very similar at the core in terms of what we expect to give and take in this life.

What support from you has your husband valued the most?

I am my husband’s best friend, and he values my strength and conviction. Since I generally tend to see the glass always half-full, he likes my spirit.

What is your personal philosophy of living life?

I live by some simple tenets in my life. 1. Live everyday like it’s the last day on earth, and so every day is fun-filled and fulfilling. 2. Always strive for the next goal/target. My favorite saying is “Aim for the stars, you will at least get to the treetops”. 3. Think about what you can give this world and not what you can take from it.

 What was your happiest moment in life?

The birth of my children. Actually, every minute I spend with them is the happiest moment of my life.

 When there were low points in your life  what advice did you value the most to pull through?

There are always crests and troughs in life, you have to be persistent believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. –

Do you have a fitness routine that you would like to share?

I exercise everyday, even if it is a 15 minute walk, I will take it and tune out the rest of world during that time.

 Do you have favorite book/author?

I like science fiction/non-fiction, so Contact, Stephen Hawking and Robin Cook

Do you have a favorite song/ musician?

I love English ballads, rap and latin dance music. I love dancing, so I will dance to anything that has a beat, whether it is Bollywood music or English pop.

 Do you like to cook? What is your favorite dish to make?

I love cooking, it is my daily release. I don’t usually follow recipes, I improvise as I go along. We are a very eclectic family, so cooking is always about exploring new dishes.

One fun fact about you

I have taken a turtle ride in Seychelles. How many people know what that is?

Any special words of advice for women.  Any piece of information you wish you had known growing up?

It all comes back to the brain, especially the frontal lobes and their connections to the limbic system!. If you believe in yourself and have confidence in yourself, your mind/brain can do amazing things. The only barrier to success is the mind/brain itself.

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