came to Ohio from India as a three year old. Her parents struggled, then thrived. Her father was an engineer, her mother a social worker. Heral went to medical school. Hiral Tipirneni married to a fellow student. After completing residencies, they chose Phoenix as a place to settle. Her husband joined an orthopedics practice; she worked in ERs. Personal experiences changed Hiral Tipinerni's life. Her mother died of cancer. A nephew died of cancer. Hiral Tipirneni turned to cancer research. Work in cancer research moved her into the public life of the community. She was a leader of research teams, served on boards, was involved in public advocacy, worked to affect the character and quality of life in her community.