My late father was my inspiration to go into medicine. He was an Internal Medicine physician that immigrated from Pakistan. His number one priority as a physician was always to make healthcare more accessible by hosting free clinics for his community and introducing services like house calls.
Who or what has inspired you while at VCOM?
One thing that has inspired me during my time at VCOM has been my interactions with professors and fellow classmates. As a medical student, it’s very easy to get caught up with the tunnel vision of solely studying for exams. I’ve been thankful to have professors like Dr. Pearson and Dr. Douthit, among others, that strive to keep our big-picture vision incorporated on a daily basis. This includes looking out for your fellow classmates and making sure your neighbor is doing okay too.
How has the VCOM mission inspired you as a medical student?
VCOM’s mission has inspired me by allowing me to volunteer in rural areas as a first-year medical student. In particular, VCOM hosted a free clinic in a rural school county allowing student-athletes to get free physicals from professors associated with VCOM. The appreciation that the school administrators had for us was something I’ll never forget. Experiences like this where you can actually make a difference in your community show how important providing resources to underserved areas is, and why that will be a priority to me as a practicing physician.
Who or what inspired you to study medicine?
My late father was my inspiration to go into medicine. He was an Internal Medicine physician that immigrated from Pakistan. His number one priority as a physician was always to make healthcare more accessible by hosting free clinics for his community and introducing services like house calls. Despite his battle with colon cancer, he always ensured others were taken care of first. His commitment to helping those that wouldn’t be seen otherwise always inspired me, and is what I strive to be, not only as a physician but as a person as well
Why did you choose VCOM?
One of the main reasons I decided to attend VCOM was the collaborative learning environment I heard about from previous students. A big priority for me when applying to schools was the type of environment I would be in. Professors have an “Open-door” policy so that you can always reach out to them if there is anything you are struggling with. Everyone at VCOM wants you to succeed, and there are so many resources available to make sure that you have what you need to do so.
What do you enjoy most about living in the area around your campus?
We are lucky to share a campus with Auburn University, so there are some good options to take study breaks with! We get access to the recreation center and athletic events (including Football games). There are also some nearby hikes and lakes that people like to explore in their spare time. While Auburn is a smaller town, there are enough restaurants and coffee shops to keep things interesting.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I prefer to decompress and hang out with friends and family. I find being active also helps clear my mind after a long day of studying so I try to work out when I have time as well. My favorite activity is probably our weekly basketball sessions with my fellow classmates at the Rec center.