1.Tell us a little bit about yourself.  I’m 22 years old and pursing a career in medicine, hoping to serve as a physician in areas with underserved populations. I’m currently a Master’s student at Eastern Mennonite University, completing a Master’s in Biomedicine program.

2. Who was your favorite teacher in school and how did he or she impact you? My favorite teacher in school had to be my high school AP bio teacher. This teacher was always delighted when we asked questions in class. She would direct us to news articles that dealt with things we were learning in class. It showed just how alive and vibrant biology is. She was always willing to stay behind after school to have discussions about a variety of things, from research implications to healthcare policies.

3. When did you first decide you wanted to become a doctor and why?  Growing up in Egypt, I was able to see firsthand the negative impact a lack of access to healthcare had on certain populations. Even something as simple as a cold, without access to medical guidance, could lead to a severe fever that then became fatal. Seeing these kinds of easily preventable cases occur stirred within me a passion to make a difference. Years later, I still have this zeal to become a physician, serving populations such as the one I observed in Egypt, where medical access is lacking.

4. What area of medicine are you interested in? My interests in medicine are still very varied. I love serving children skewing me towards pediatric medicine. However I also am drawn to the fast paced nature of Emergency medicine, and the wide-ranging cases of patients that an ED doctor is able to serve.

5. What’s the coolest experience you’ve had so far on your premedical journey? One of the coolest experiences I’ve had was while volunteering at a transitional care hospital. During this time, I would often go into patients rooms and talk with them about different things, from how they were feeling that day to the World Series. One patient, Jeffery, had been in the hospital for a few months. He was always ready to talk and share with me his life experiences. We ended up forming a genuine friendship and till this day check in with each other. Being able to see how his day always became just a little bit brighter through some conversation is still one of the coolest experiences I look back on. It reminds me constantly why I want to be a physician, connecting with and helping people in their most vulnerable times.

6. What is your favorite book? This changes from season to season as I read more and more. Right now my favorite book is “The Way Of The Pilgrim”

7. Tell us one thing interesting about you that most people don’t know.  I love writing. As I’m studying I often like to take breaks and work on different pieces of writing that I’ve started. I hope to one day publish a novel.

8. What do you like most about PreMed STAR?  I value that PreMed STAR offers a platform for premeds to encourage each other and most-importantly build a network. For me, not only does networking build a door through which opportunities may come, but it also becomes a learning tool where we as pre-meds may share guidance, study tips, and other relevant information with one another.

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