NOTE: This is one in a series of articles on Brock’s 2021-22 Horizon Graduate Student Scholarship recipients. Read other stories in the series on The Brock News.

After experiencing a family tragedy during the COVID-19 pandemic, Luv Khandelwal was left disappointed in India’s health-care system and determined to create change.

“When my maternal grandfather met a health catastrophe, I was appalled at how inefficient the hospital systems were at admitting an emergency patient in crisis,” said the Brock Master of Science in Management student. “Unfortunately, he succumbed to his condition. Hence, reducing time to render relief is necessary for crises that can result in loss of life.”

Khandelwal has since been driven to research the vitality of efficient health-care system operations in relation to COVID-19 and future health crises.

His passion saw him recognized as one of 20 recipients of Brock’s 2021-22 Horizon Graduate Student Scholarship, which supports high-achieving graduate students from Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) and other under-represented groups. Recipients are selected from research-based programs to receive a one-time award of $5,000.

Khandelwal takes a different perspective to his Management studies, with an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and experience in pharmaceutical consulting under his belt. He is also working on a research initiative entitled “The impact of delays during the pandemic months on survival of lung cancer patients in Canada in 2020.”

His research focuses on COVID-19 population, transmission rates and allocation of resources, including ventilators and hospital beds, to make sure there is an adequate amount of inventory during a pandemic.

His research has arrived at a preliminary result, which he will be presenting at the CORS/INFORMS Vancouver International conference in June.

“My professor took the initiative to encourage me to apply for the conference, and I was excited when my abstract was accepted,” Khandelwal said. “This would not have been the case in India, as all responsibility would be upon the student.”

After choosing Brock University to continue his academic journey, Khandelwal said he’s been impressed with how supportive the program’s faculty have been.

“The support from faculty has been astonishing. Brock is rich with high-quality professors and scholars who have an abundance of research experience,” he said.

Moving forward, Khandelwal is looking at potentially continuing his graduate studies, pursuing his PhD.

“My most ideal future would be to hold a research and decision-making position in government,” he said.