����APP

Growing up in California, no one in Rohan Jain’s family had moved out of the state, and he’d never even heard of ����APP until a brief mention in Grey’s Anatomy, a show he was watching at the time. What really drew him to CWRU, though, was the university’s academic flexibility, which he knew would empower him to explore different areas of study.

“I didn’t want to feel boxed in at 17, and I kept hearing how collaborative the environment was,” said Jain, who is set to graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Beyond the academic strengths of CWRU, Jain also knew it offered unmatched leadership opportunities through the President's Leadership Development Program. He was one of eight students selected to participate in the program, which placed more of an emphasis on the qualities that make leaders than the positions they hold.

Leadership, however, has long been central to Jain’s life. 

At 12 years old, he founded The Smiling Foundation to address food insecurity in his local community. From the beginning, the organization was structured around reliability rather than one-time charity — building consistent food access systems that would eventually serve well over 100,000 meals that families could depend on. 

When COVID-19 exposed the deep interconnection between food access and healthcare access, the foundation expanded its mission to meet emerging needs. Under Jain’s leadership, The Smiling Foundation partnered with hospitals, corporations, and community organizations to mobilize millions in medical supplies, protective equipment, and humanitarian relief across multiple regions, both domestically and internationally. Its efforts spanned large-scale feeding initiatives, frontline healthcare support, and coordinated medical distribution efforts in areas experiencing acute strain.

“Years later, as we still remain operational today, what I’m most proud of is how it evolved from grassroot local food initiative into a broader engine for community resilience,” Jain said. “The mission has always remained unchanged: no matter the issue, if our community is under strain, we organize and respond, ensuring no one is left to face a crisis alone.”

As a student, he’s continued to do just that. Last summer, Jain, an aspiring physician, volunteered at migrant health clinics along the U.S.–Mexico border, helping with patient triage, medication distribution, medical documentation, and overall clinic operations.

Jain will continue the mission advocating for equity-focused medicine after graduation in May, during a gap year before applying to medical school. 

He will focus on migrant and marginalized populations in high-volunterability areas as an emergency medical technician and a medical assistant supporting physicians in resource-limited clinics.

Learn more about Jain’s experiences.

1. How has the President's Leadership Development Program contributed to your educational experience? 

The program really taught me the value of relationships. I realized you don’t always have to start from scratch or do everything on your own to make a meaningful impact. Often, someone else is already working on something similar, and finding ways to collaborate can make your contributions stronger and more sustainable. It shifted how I approach projects—whether in research, volunteering, or leadership—and showed me that impact is often about connection, not just effort. 

2. What is your fondest memory from the program?

Honestly, it’s hard to pick one specific moment. During our first year, all of us scholars lived in the same building—I even shared a room with another scholar, Dosi. That year, we spent so much time together, and I think my fondest memories are just the everyday moments: hanging out, talking late at night, and getting to know each other as people. Those relationships really shaped my experience in the program. 

3. What interested you in pursuing a career in medicine? 

For me, medicine has always been about responsibility. In my community, responsibility was quiet and assumed: when someone was capable of helping, they did so. 

To me, among all such figures, physicians stood apart. They were trusted not only for their knowledge, but for their judgment, integrity, and availability. People turned to them not because they had answers to every problem, but because they believed those answers would always be guided by care for the person asking. People would even go to my physician for non-medical-related questions for this exact reason. I wanted to be that person. 

4. Why did you decide to major in psychology? 

I was always interested in medicine, but I realized I also had other interests I wanted to explore. I wanted a major that let me dive into something different from the typical pre-med path. Psychology really drew me in because it studies people in a more personal, human-centered way—understanding behavior, motivations, and thought processes. That perspective actually feels really complementary to medicine, because understanding people on that level makes you a more thoughtful caregiver. 

5. What was the most poignant moment or experience from your work at the border? 

One moment that really stuck with me involved a patient whose diabetes had led to severe foot complications. At first, our plan was just to prescribe medication and schedule a follow-up, but we realized that wouldn’t address the real barriers she faced—her work schedule, difficulty accessing a pharmacy, and family responsibilities. By taking the time to listen and collaborate, we helped her develop a plan she could actually follow. That experience showed me that responsibility in healthcare isn’t just about performing tasks—it’s about understanding the full context of a patient’s life and making choices that truly honor the trust they place in you.