”Engaged at Einstein” Has Got a Nice Ring to It!

On a beautiful, sunny spring afternoon in May, Einstein became center stage for a truly special milestone of alumni Mehul Trivedi, M.D., class of 2020, and Richa Sheth, M.D., Class of 2021. With an assist from the alumni relations team, Mehul set out to surprise Richa with a most memorable wedding proposal, which he was able to pull off with some additional help from family and friends.

Newly engaged alumni Richa Sheth, M.D., class of 2021, and Mehul Trivedi, M.D., class of 2020, celebrate with family and friends in the Central Courtyard

“I couldn’t think of a more meaningful way to propose than to do so in the place where we first met,” said Mehul. “Einstein is where our friendship and romance began, so it just seemed fitting.”

Flashback to August 2021: As a second-year medical student, Mehul volunteered to be an orientation leader for the incoming Einstein M.D. Class of 2021. He recalled, “I was excited to guide the new students as they began their medical school journey, but I never expected it would also be the first step of an amazing adventure for me, too.”

Richa and Mehul, a picture of engaged bliss

Enter Richa, a first-year who was among the incoming students assigned to Mehul’s orientation group. “To our surprise, we learned we were from the same hometown,” he said. That would be San Ramon, California, a small town in the Bay Area.

Kismet Connection

They “hit it off immediately,” connecting easily over the multiple similarities that they shared. “We also discovered that our families were from the same region in India,” said Richa.

Mehul and Richa quickly became close, and it was no surprise to their friends when they decided to start dating a few months later. Over the next three years, their relationship deepened. And, though a year apart, they each matched into the internal medicine residency program at the University of California – San Diego. (He is currently chief resident and Richa is a third-year resident in the UCSD internal medicine program.)

Six years of love and friendship later, Mehul and Richa knew that they wanted to take the next step in their relationship together. He reached out to Min Um-Mandhyan, director of alumni relations and development, who helped him shape his strategy and address the necessary logistics for being on campus amid some continuing COVID-19 protocols relevant to visitors on campus. Min and colleague Amanda Elghandour pulled out all the stops—including Amanda coming in that weekend to make sure their surprise guests would be signed in to be on campus— and also contacting housekeeping, security, and a photographer to make sure that all details were covered.

Re-Orientation as Fiancés

On Saturday, May 13, 2023, on the lawn in front of the Michael F. Price Center for Genetic and Translational Medicine/Block Research Pavilion, Mehul asked Richa to be his bride with their close friends and classmates, Sheel Patel, M.D., Class of 2020, and Vidushi Purohit, M.D., Class of 2021 on hand for the joyous occasion. (The witnesses to their bliss were themselves recently married!)

Another surprise awaited the newly engaged couple in Einstein’s Central Courtyard, where their parents and Richa’s younger sister were assembled to celebrate their engagement with them. They all had flown in from California especially, to surprise the couple.

When Mehul and Richa entered the courtyard, they found it decorated with balloons and a flowery arch. There also were champagne glasses at the ready to “ring” in the new stage of their relationship.

“It was incredible to share such a special moment in a place that has meant so much to us,” they said.

The celebrations continued that evening at another surprise party with many more of their Einstein classmates, family, and friends. “I’m so grateful to all the Einstein team members who helped make our engagement so special,” said Mehul.

Posted on: Wednesday, July 05, 2023

My Workflow