Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
The Robert G. Fenley Writing Awards: General Staff Writing
Bronze
For WashU MD/PhD student Sid Sivakumar, studying the brain is like constructing a crossword puzzle. He should know because he excels at both. A dual major in neuroscience and biomedical engineering, Sivakumar studies stroke’s impact on the motor cortex, a part of the brain that controls movement. During his free time, however, Sivakumar creates crossword puzzles for The New York Times, Washington Post and other major publications. He even constructed a puzzle for WashU’s online newsletter, the Record.
His clever wordplay and background in medicine have earned him fame within the puzzle community. But more important than fame, Sivakumar said, is the interconnection between constructing crosswords and researching the brain.
Creating crosswords has “educated me in fields of social sciences, history, geography, the arts and culture,” he said. “It’s made me think deeply about issues of race, gender and historical systems of oppression. I know my passion for word puzzles will enhance my skills as a physician. I also know crosswords have already made me a better scientist — especially one learning about the brain, the basis of humanity itself.”
What was the most impactful part of your entry?
The most impactful part of my entry was connecting Sivakumar's passion for constructing crossword puzzles with his research in neuroscience. To most people, the two specialties may seem vastly different. But to Sid, they're so similar. To make the connection, I had to ask him twice as many questions as usual. The impact of the storytelling was enhanced by Sivakumar constructing a WashU-centric, printable crossword puzzle that was embedded into the story. The WashU community as a whole seemed to enjoy solving it. And the puzzle itself became a useful tool in a student orientation program.
What challenge did you overcome?
Like many institutions in academic medicine, WashU's news communications staff is stretched thin. Additionally, our office has spent the past year in the thick of strategic makeovers and rebranding initiatives. All of this is to say that writing a long profile on a student isn't a top priority. And I knew that I couldn't write a gushing profile that lacked substance. Sid's passion for brain research and crossword puzzles has so many fascinating layers. To write the profile on Sid the way I wanted, I had to put in extra hours and advocate for myself. I feel it was worth it.
Contact:
Kristina Sauerwein
k.sauerwein@wustl.edu