We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dheeraj Varandani. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dheeraj below.

Dheeraj, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

For most of my childhood, I lived in the small Indian town of Sirohi, where technology felt like a distant dream. But everything changed in first grade when my dad brought home an Intel Pentium 3 desktop computer—a rare sight in our town. This new gadget opened a world of possibilities for my endlessly curious mind. By fourth grade, I was already delving into software, HTML, and typing in various languages.

While my dad ‘s support fueled my creativity, my mom always instilled the values of hard work, discipline and sincerity in me; waking up at 4am with me during the exam seasons to make sure I have time for the revisions in the morning.

Indian parents typically push their children toward traditional careers like medicine, IT, or law. My dad, a doctor himself, defied this norm, instead, he encouraged me to explore my own path.

My fascination with digital art grew rapidly, fueled by the endless creative potential it offered. My dad supported this passion, enrolling me in a crash course in Animation that blossomed into a five-year Diploma in 3D Animation. Ultimately, my parents sent me to the United States to pursue a Fine Arts degree.

Without my parents’ belief, support and investment in my dreams, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Dheeraj, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an artist and a programmer, born and raised in India. My zeal to create something new and tell stories brought me into the field of Digital Arts. After working on the Elf on the Shelf Netflix special for a year, I set out to do something more meaningful with the creative skillset I had.

Since then, I focus on contributing in meaningful ways to society by designing engaging educational modules for medical students and professionals, and deploying them on immersive technologies like VR/AR head-mounted displays and holographic theatre.

From the stroke of a brush to lines of code, I’ve found my calling in merging art, science, and technology. Every day poses a new and different challenge. Some days I spend my time creating color palettes for medical applications, and other days I find myself writing technical tools to help make the lives of other artists easier. Whether it is through my artistic endeavors, my programming expertise, or my commitment to the advancement of medical education, I consistently strive to create a positive impact on people’s lives.

Beyond my professional endeavors, you can often find me exploring new art forms, experimenting with different programming languages, and seeking inspiration from the world around me. I thrive on challenges and love pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most fulfilling aspect of being an artist lies in the ability to bring something entirely new into existence and stir emotions in others through my creations.

In my role at a medical university, I’ve discovered that art has the remarkable power to transform and elevate any experience. My work involves developing immersive, interactive educational modules for medical training across various platforms. By infusing these modules with artistic elements, I strive to make them not only more engaging but also more effective in fostering student involvement and enhancing learning retention.

Through this fusion of art and education, I aim to make complex medical concepts more accessible and captivating!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I am passionate about shaping a better, healthier world by revolutionizing healthcare education through engaging, immersive, and interactive experiences. At the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where I contribute to the iEXCEL program, we create cutting-edge virtual simulations of medical equipment, surgical procedures, and human anatomy. This approach allows medical students to learn and practice in a highly effective and realistic manner.

In addition to enhancing medical education, I am dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the Computer Graphics field. My goal is to explore and expand its applications across diverse areas such as entertainment, medicine, and simulation.

To further these ambitions, I am about to embark on a PhD in Artificial Intelligence. I aim to advance the intersection of Computer Graphics and Medical Education, contributing innovative solutions that drive both fields forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dheerajv.com
• Instagram: dheerajvarandani
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dheerart

Image Credits

Abhishek Singh, Anushka Deedwania, Timmy Chiu, Dheeraj Varandani – Savannah College of Art and Design

Kent Sievers, University of Nebraska Medical Center

John Aaron Lohrey, Director, Rocketman | Savannah College of Art and Design