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.

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?

When starting class at VCOM, it was easy to get wrapped up in the chaos of trying to stay on top of daily classes while dealing with the challenges of day-to-day life. However, I was blessed to find a piece of support and tranquility outside of home in my classmates and faculty. Two faculty members, Dr. David Stephen and Dr. William Pearson have unknowingly played a major part in inspiring me to continue my path to becoming a physician. Finding that support system that genuinely believes in you and checks in to see how you’re doing is a feeling unlike no other.

How has the VCOM mission inspired you as a medical student?

One of my main driving forces for wanting to become a physician is to ensure that members of my community feel safe and that their concerns are heard when interacting with medical personnel. Growing up, I watched my family and friends grow more distrustful of the medical community due to receiving subpar treatment. VCOM’s mission to meet the needs of rural and underserved communities is a goal that aligns with the very essence of my being. I feel that it is our duty as Medical Professionals to ensure that the needs of the underserved are met with the same urgency and care as others and to do so, we must be comfortable using our voices in otherwise unfamiliar territories.

Who or what inspired you to study medicine?

My grandmother inspired my decision to study medicine. She raised my siblings and me for a large portion of our childhood, all while being bedridden and suffering from many comorbidities. At a very young age, I was well versed in assisting my grandmother around the house as well as with her medical needs. I would often accompany her to her doctor’s appointments and watched eagerly by her bedside. After the appointment was over, I bombarded her with my never-ending questions. I have often been told that it was unfair to assume the role of a caretaker at such a young age. However, I do not look at my upbringing that way. In my eyes, we took care of one another, and the medical care that she allowed me to do was the seed that fostered my love for the medical field in the first place. My story is something that will aid me in having empathy with my future patients and their families and overall make me a better physician.

Why did you choose VCOM?

In my opinion, I did not choose VCOM. VCOM chose me. My path to entering medical school was everything but easy. I fought with myself often about applying to a Master’s program because I honestly did not feel it was necessary. However, after talking to my friends who are on similar paths, I decided to swallow my pride and apply for the Bluefield MABS program. This program allowed me to grow in confidence in my ability to succeed in medical school, and I learned an invaluable lesson along the way. Things will not always go as you initially planned. God will often lead you down paths that may not always make sense to you, but sometimes you have to go where you are called before you can get to where you need to be.

What do you enjoy most about living in the area around your campus?

I enjoy that everything in Auburn is within close proximity.  I enjoy the spirit of Auburn and its love for sports! Coming from a smaller undergraduate institution, the city's spirit was definitely a transition, and I feel that everyone should experience it at least once!

Are you interested in a particular practice or specialty once you graduate? What has inspired your interest in this specialty?

Initially, I was interested in practicing as a Neonatologist. I always knew I wanted to work with children. However, it was not until I volunteered in the NICU at Ochsner Baptist in New Orleans, LA, that I fell in love with caring for one of the most vulnerable populations within our community. As I have continued to grow in my skills and knowledge through my experiences as an ED Scribe and Medical Student, I have also realized that I also love Emergency Medicine, Infectious Disease, and Cardiology. With this being said, I think it’s safe to say that I will enjoy the ride and embrace whatever specialty feels more like me once we start rotations.

I feel that it is our duty as Medical Professionals to ensure that the needs of the underserved are met with the same urgency and care as others and to do so, we must be comfortable using our voices in otherwise unfamiliar territories.