“Hey, boss? Can I have four or five weeks off?”

Kishan Patel, MD, couldn’t believe it. A third-year resident in the University of California San Francisco Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Dr. Patel had somehow survived several rounds of interviews and landed a spot on one of the most popular reality TV shows this century-“Survivor.”

Granted permission to take some time off, Dr. Patel was headed to Fiji for the 47th season of the reality television competition where a group of contestants live together on an island and compete in challenges for a prize of $1 million.

Unlike many long-time fans of the show, which has been on for almost 25 years, Dr. Patel only started watching “Survivor” when it popped up as an option on Netflix during the Covid-19 pandemic. He was hooked.

Passion for Emergency Medicine

Dr. Patel, a first-generation physician who studied medicine at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine, has a passion for emergency medicine that is deeply personal. Born to immigrant parents from India, he grew up navigating health care through the emergency department (ED). His family didn’t have health insurance, and his sister endured more than 20 surgeries to treat her spina bifida. Dr. Patel wanted to help vulnerable populations, and treating patients in the ED seemed like a perfect fit.

“The ER is such a safety net for so many,” Dr. Patel said. “Being able to serve this community is such an honor. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing.”

The excitement of dealing with unpredictable, sometimes traumatic cases fuels his passion and continues to provide a challenge.

A New Challenge

ACEP member Kishan Patel, MD, submitted his application video to producers of the television show Survivor while on a hike. (Click to enlarge.)

The journey to becoming a “Survivor” cast member started when Dr. Patel was on a hike, took out his phone, and thought to himself, “Why not?” He recorded a video, submitted it, and didn’t have to wait long to hear back. A producer called the next day, inviting him to the first interview. He was invited to another interview, and another, and then another. After each stage, Dr. Patel started to believe he might actually get to compete on the show.

A few weeks later, he was on a plane to Fiji, tossed into the mix with other contestants, all from different backgrounds, about to compete to be the “Sole Survivor.”