Editor’s Note: Each month, InterCOM will highlight a “Student of the Month” from the College of Medicine. Students will be featured for their participation in activities outside of medical school and for making a difference in the community. The goal is to recognize students for what they are doing and to encourage other students to get involved in the community. After all, medical school should be much more than studying.
Personal:
I was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and lived there with my parents and older brother until the age of 6. My family and I then moved to Islamabad, Pakistan. My parents originate from small villages in the northwestern part of Pakistan. We lived in Islamabad for about six years and eventually moved to USA in December 1999.
After a couple of months of staying with relatives in California, my father was offered a position as a pediatrician in Scottsbluff, Neb. I have been living in Nebraska since then (approximately the past 15 years). I attended high school in Scottsbluff, undergrad in Lincoln at UNL and have been at UNMC for the past three and a half years.
My time in Nebraska has been amazing, and I am now looking forward to starting a general surgery residency in Springfield, Ill., at Southern Illinios University.
Activities:
Outside of school, I try to stay involved in the community. In high school, I used to volunteer at the hospital gift shop. During my undergrad years, I have been a part of the American Red Cross first aid team, and I also volunteered at St. Elizabeth Hospital Burn Center. Through medical school, I have volunteered at the UNMC clinics serving the underserved (SHARING, GOODLIFE and RESPECT). I also have mentored elementary school kids at Fontenelle Elementary School. These all have been very rewarding experiences.
Hobbies and staying balanced:
- Being outdoors – camping, hiking, climbing and skiing.
- Reading. Going to movies.
- Traveling (hope to go to Turkey before residency).
- I love music, especially live music (big and small concerts).
- Hanging out with friends and family.
- I try to work out regularly. It helps me unwind from the stresses of medical school.