Always In Tandem: Twin Doctors Go Back To School For Their Fifth Degree

By REENA RATHORE

Throughout their 43 years of twinhood, they have done almost everything in tandem. The journey of Indian American doctors and identical twins Jagan and Neel Gupta is a testament to the enduring power of family, education and community.

The brothers, who were named valedictorian and salutatorian at Tulane University and went on to receive merit-based partial academic scholarship to Tulane School of Medicine, have spent their lives not just parallel in trajectory but intertwined in purpose and passion.

Neel is an assistant professor in clinical radiology at Tulane University School of Medicine, teaching medical students, residents, and researchers, while Jagan is employed as a neuroradiologist at the New Orleans VA Medical Center where he trains medical residents.

Neel was recently named the new president of the Radiological Society of Louisiana, the state chapter of the American College of Radiology.

The dynamic duo believes that learning is a lifelong process and are always looking for ways to expand their knowledge. Two decades after graduating from Tulane at the top of their class, they are both now pursuing their fifth degree at the university – a master’s in business administration.

“Our professor that taught us last semester in the MBA program was the same professor that taught us 22 and a half years ago as undergraduates.

And he remembers us very well,” Neel told India-West. “The MBA class will also teach our kids the value of education because we’ve learned our entire life that no matter where you are, you can lose everything but the education and the value of it will stay with you forever.”

They earned a bachelor’s degree in science and followed that up with a medical degree. They went on to pursue a preliminary medicine internship, a one-year degree program and later on completed their radiology residency, a four-year course, at Tulane.

Born just 30 seconds apart, these inseparable siblings embarked on a journey through academia, culture, and careers, always side by side. “We’ve also taken the initiative to go and pursue the 5th degree mainly to spend time with each other outside of class,” noted Jagan.

“We know a lot of twins, identical and paternal. But I don’t know anybody that’s closer than us, in terms of, like, getting along. Our personal and professional lives complement one another. We have the same habits, the same friends, same interests, like the same teams, have the same philosophy on politics, like the same type of clothes, we love music, love our Indian culture, and our parents are very close to us…And we try to raise the kids like we were raised,” Neel added. “Technology has really enhanced our ability to kind of collaborate and complement each other’s work. We’re very detail-oriented with our work, very patient-minded and patient-concerned.”

In spite of their ambitious nature, there is no sibling rivalry here. “We try to avoid controversy and just have fun together,” Neel said.

Returning to the classroom for a formalized training that was not medicine was a decision that stemmed not only from their desire to upskill and assume leadership roles but to also assist with the family real estate business. Plus, the timing was right. “Any profession you are in, it’s ever changing,” Neel opined. “You have to adapt to technology, be integrated, adapt to the geopolitical changes. And some things may be favorable or lucrative at some point may not be there. It goes in waves, right?”

Their adventures extended beyond the classroom. Embracing their cultural heritage, they dived into the arts, with a summer in Toronto, studying acting and dance under the guidance of famed Indian choreographer Shiamak Davar, then took their talents to India, training at the prestigious Kishore Namit Kapoor Acting Institute. Segueing into Latin dance under the tutelage of Troy Anthony, the duo gave performances with his dance company called Latin Motions. They dabbled in a bit of commercial work, including ramp walks and print ads. Jagan even had a brush with Hollywood when he scored a role in the film, “Freshmen Orientation,” in 2004. As their primary passion remained medicine, the duo later returned to complete their medical degrees.

“No matter what your main career is, all these side things in your life make you so much better at your profession…,” remarked Neel.

Their journey took a dramatic turn with Hurricane Katrina when they had to relocate their training to Houston, Texas, at the Baylor College of Medicine, but their resilience saw them rebuild and continue their medical careers in New Orleans.

They completed their internships in internal medicine and diagnostic radiology residencies at Tulane. Neel also served as chief resident during his residency.

Their professional paths took them to prestigious fellowships – one of the very few times that they were separated: Neel in musculoskeletal radiology at the University of California San Diego and Jagan in neuroradiology at Duke University. Both returned to New Orleans to contribute to the healthcare system through private practice.

Their collaboration extended beyond their professional realm when they developed and taught a unique curriculum at Tulane, mentoring countless students.

“We taught a class called Introduction to Clinical Medicine. We were 26 years old then,” Neel, who was a first-year resident at the time, recalled. “We taught freshman pre-medical honors students for about 10 years… many are physicians currently.”

Tulane University has been more than just an educational institution for the twins. Back in the late ‘80s, their mother, a dermatology resident at Tulane, would bring them to the campus during weekends. At the time, the university was a lively backdrop to their childhood, filled with memories of pizza outings and the clatter of slide projectors. The early exposure to Tulane’s vibrant environment left a lasting impression on the twins.

Coming from a family of physicians – their mother is a dermatologist, their father, an anesthesiologist and their 17 cousins are all doctors – they were always enamored by the field. But they also pursued medical degrees with a shared goal of staying close.

“We wanted to stay together, my brother and I, and that was very important to us then and also now. As we developed and started working the last 10-plus years in private practice and academics, we’ve had jobs separately; we’ve had jobs together. But we’ve always enjoyed the camaraderie, the working together and being very happy for each other’s accomplishments. For us, one plus one is 11. We’re very synergistic. We help each other quite a bit,” Jagan told India-West, with Neel adding that “God gave us this beautiful relationship and we want to capitalize it to have an impact on people.”

Jagan and Neel exemplified academic excellence from a young age. They attended Lake Castle Private School and Benjamin Franklin Senior High School, excelling in both academics and sports. At 15, they spent about six weeks at Phillips Andover, a boarding school in Massachusetts, which had kids from all over the world. They described it as the most “impactful experience” they’ve had in their lives.

The personal lives of these siblings mirrored their professional synergy. Both married six months apart and had their first children seven weeks apart, and are living less than five blocks away from each other on the same street. Their parents also moved nearby, reinforcing a tight-knit family support system.

Despite their demanding careers – which leave little time for sleep – the brothers take their kids to school every morning, coach their soccer teams and Neel even takes weekly voice classes.

Neel has two girls ages five and three while Jagan has three children, two girls ages five and two and a three-year-old son.

“You don’t just put the kids in class and walk away. We’re singing Taylor Swift. We’re singing Indie songs. I have this twinkle in my eye because I’m doing it with them. If the kids want me to wear Barbie socks, I wear Barbie socks. We’re very regimented, but we enjoy that structure,” he stated.

Their story, spanning continents and generations, began with their grandfather who immigrated to the U.S. in 1956. He graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Auburn University in Alabama in 1958 and gradually brought his family over from Punjab, including their father who was nine at the time.

He graduated from Louisiana State University and attended dental school for two years before switching to medicine. Their mother, also a medical graduate from India, completed her education at LSU and Tulane University.

The brothers emphasized the profound impact of good mentorship and active engagement. Their medical journey, though long, was filled with enjoyment and fulfillment because they embraced it with a sense of fun and curiosity, they said.

“A passive life is not rewarding. It’s frustrating. It can lead to depression…And active means learning…whatever learning it may be….” said Neel. “If you don’t like one method of learning, find something else. The more you learn, the more you can have impact on people.”