Dr. Ranjan Bista went to medical school knowing exactly what field he wanted to get into.

“I liked pediatrics because it’s very interesting,” the 30-year-old said. “Everything changes with age and I think it’s challenging. On top of that, I like kids also.”

He and his wife Sunita don’t have any of their own yet, but he’s seeing quite a few each day through his new practice at the Carolinas Health Associates-Upstate Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine office in Union.

Bista came to the clinic in July following the departure of Drs. Margot Butler and Edifel Macatuno who left earlier this year to practice elsewhere. He’s now seeing at least 20 patients each day and shares call with the other pediatricians at the clinic and handles emergency cases at Wallace Thomson Hospital as needed.

The new doctor hails from Nepal and completed his residency at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, only a month before accepting his position in Union.

So fresh out of his residency he wasn’t exactly looking for a job in small-town South Carolina, especially after living in a huge city like New York City.

But as life would have it, Union is nearly the midpoint between two relatives. His brother lives in Charlotte, NC, and his wife’s brother lives in Atlanta. It was almost as if Union was beckoning them.

“We wanted to come somewhere close to them,” Bista said. “And I got in touch with somebody here in Union.”

After talking with representatives of the Union Hospital District and Wallace Thomson Hospital, Bista decided it might be worth coming to check the area out.

“There was a need for pediatricians,” he said. “Two doctors had left.”

And the rest is now history.

Adjusting to small-town life hasn’t been too hard for him, either, especially with as busy as he’s been since starting to practice.

“I have been adjusting very well,” Bista said. “I’m busy all the time and it’s the same in a big city. If you’re busy, I don’t think there’s much difference where you are.”

He and his wife are finding the area interesting on their time off as well. They like to look around and have visited some of the bigger communities around Union like Greenville, Columbia and Spartanburg and they’ve, of course, been to Charlotte and Atlanta to see their brothers.

Bista said he particularly enjoyed the 2009 Union County Fair.

“I had fun at the fair,” he said. “It was very interesting.”

Like his newest colleague Dr. James Mumford he is excited about building his practice and forming relationships with his patients. Bista added there’s already been patients requesting his services.

“I think we will establish that, but it takes a long time to establish that kind of relationship,” he said. “But I think I’m doing well.”

As a new doctor, he’s also excited about working with people like Mumford and his other colleagues, Hayden T. Brickle and Kelli C. Johnston, because he’ll be able to learn from their experience and expertise. And he had nothing but good things to say about the clinic’s staff and the employees of Wallace Thomson Hospital.

“Everybody is really nice and they take good care of their patients,” Bista said. “The staff is excellent here. That’s one of the most strong points about the clinic here. They know every patient — they’re like family.”

This is just the beginning of his practice and he’s looking forward to serving Union and Union County.

“So far, everything’s going well,” Bista said. “I hope I’ll be able to take good care of my patients and serve Union well.”

The Union Hospital District and Wallace Thomson Hospital are equally excited to have Bista on board at the pediatrics and adolescent medicine clinic.

“We are very fortunate to have such a bright young physician with outstanding training,” said hospital CEO Bill Leonard. “He has a great manner with pediatric patients and we are very pleased to have him and his wife living in Union.”

BISTA BACKGROUND:

EXPERIENCE: House officer, College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal, 2004-05.

EDUCATION: Pediatrics Residency, Woodhull Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY (affiliated to New York University), graduated June 2009; Interned at the College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal, 2004-05; Completed medical school at the College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal, 1998-2002; Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Kathmandu, Nepal, graduated high school in 1998.

HONORS AND AWARDS: Distinction in Pediatrics at Medical School.

CERTIFICATE AND LICENSURE: Board certified, Nepal Medical Council; Education Commission for Foreign Medical graduate, January 2006.