Dr Desai obtained his medical degree from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, he had the privilege of serving as chief medical resident. While chief medical resident, he was actively involved in medical education as a Clinical Instructor of Medicine.

Following his chief medical residency, Dr Desai joined the faculty at the Baylor College of Medicine. As an Assistant Professor of Medicine, he remains active in medical education, working closely with medical students, interns, and residents at the VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas - one of the major teaching hospitals at the Baylor College of Medicine. He is also one of the principal authors of the Clinician's Guide to Laboratory Medicine: A Practical Approach which along with the Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis: A Practical Approach is part of the Lexi-Comp “Clinician's Guide” series.