<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><item href="/medicine/news/2026/niki-saxena.html" dsn="news"><title>Planting Roots in Private Practice: Niki Saxena</title><description>In 1989, Niki Saxena, M.D., (Med ’93), traded the coastline for the heartland. Drawn by service, social justice, and high-quality clinical training, the California native journeyed to Saint Louis University School of Medicine to pursue her medical degree.  </description><image>/medicine/news/2026/-img/saxena-niki-960-640.jpg</image><date>08/14/2026</date><tags><tag>newsfeed-medicine</tag></tags></item>