Q: Please tell us your name and your hometown/country.
A: My name is Fadi Ali Jamaleddin Ahmad. I am from Deir Dibwan, Palestine, but I also identify as South American since I was born and raised in a small town called Dabajuro in Venezuela. To add more to my multicultural background, I am a U.S. citizen who has lived in New Mexico for almost half my life. I am a first-generation student who has worked hard since arriving in the United States to learn English as a third language, finish a dual degree BS in Biology and Psychology with interdisciplinary studies and chemistry minors and a master’s in public health with an epidemiology concentration. I now am a fourth-year medical student almost completing my title of medical doctor.
Q: Do you attend the Sint Maarten campus or the UK Track?
A: I am at the Sint Maarten campus.
Q: What year are you in at AUC?
A: I am in my fourth year of medical school and currently in my clinical rotations. I started in New York at BronxCare Hospital Center, where I did my first core rotations in OB-GYN, pediatrics, and psychiatry and completed my elective in family medicine. Then, I did the rest of my core rotations at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, where I did my surgery and internal medicine rotations. Then, I decided to go to Miami to start my fourth year, starting at the Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital in Weston, Florida, and doing most of my other rotations with Jackson Memorial Hospital and Miami Rescue Mission. Also, I have been accepted to start a Global Health elective in Thailand.
Q: How do you spend your time most days? Describe a typical day for you.
A: I do weightlifting and run to relieve stress and clear my mind. My usual routine is to wake up at 5 to 6 a.m. and eat a high-protein, macro-dense breakfast that gets me started right. I set up my desk, clean it, and activate my peppermint oil diffuser/humidifier to begin my day studying. I spend time with my family in the afternoon and work out in the evening. I have two days of the week when I study less and do more enjoyable things like soccer, discovering new places to explore, and enjoying nature.
Q: What does it mean for you to have the ability to return home for your clinical training and spend time with your family? Do you hope to remain in the area to stay near your family?
A: Being able to return home to New Mexico and have more flexible hours allows me to be closer to family. This career is challenging and super stressful. I plan to return to the area where my family is for residency, but I am also considering other locations to increase my chances of matching on my first attempt.
Q: What clubs or organizations are you involved in at AUC?
A: I am involved in many organizations because it keeps me busy and connects me with many people, as success does not happen alone but by having a village that can support you. I am part of many family medicine organizations. They have expanded my horizons and allowed me to explore what I can in the profession. I am part of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, the American Physician Scientists Association, and many more. In addition, I am part of the Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute scholar program of 2024, which only accepted 30 medical students to embark on a journey of leadership and community strength in the field of family medicine to create better leaders and strengthen future generations. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn so I can help you in your medical journey and answer AUC-related questions based on my experience.
Q: Do you have any additional interests or activities you’re involved in at AUC?
A: I have always been intrigued by community service and helping underserved people have a healthy life and avoid chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and any other metabolic syndromes that can be managed. As a student at AUC, I participated in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine implementation in the community by providing the vaccine with the Sint Maarten government’s permission and a group of people in the community trained to implement the vaccine. A simple action can sometimes spark hope, and the beauty is that medicine allows you to experience that.
Q: Have you considered what specialty you want to pursue after med school? What is it, and what appeals to you about it?
A: As I said earlier, family medicine is another level of medicine that is different from other specialties. You need to develop a connection with patients and arrive at diagnoses that are hard to detect immediately. It is like a transcranial shock that keeps stimulating your brain and motivating you to keep learning. At least, that is how I feel every time. I value continuity. Knowing the status of my patients allows me to be comfortable.
Q: What do you like best about AUC?
A: I like AUC because it allows you to control your schedule and rotate into many clinical experiences in different regions to increase your chances of matching.
Q: What advice would you give to others about getting into medical school?
A: My advice is always to follow what makes you more comfortable. Being at AUC, the advantages are the numerous experiences. Being at AUC, the advantages are the numerous experiences and the opportunity to build your network.
Q: If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
A: Start applying for every scholarship or opportunity you can while volunteering in fields you are interested in, because you might be inspired to pursue that path.
Q: Would you recommend AUC to other students seeking medical school?
A: I would recommend AUC to new incoming students since it is a unique experience to be in the Caribbean while attending medical school. The taboo about not being able to match coming from a Caribbean medical school is a myth. What matters is your work and the service you provide to your studies. AUC provides all the tools and resources to achieve that.
We appreciate Fadi sharing his medical school journey with us. His dedication to community service and helping underserved populations achieve healthier lives is truly commendable.
If Fadi’s journey resonates with you, explore how AUC’s multicultural campus, collaborative learning environment, and exceptional medical education can shape your path to becoming the physician you aspire to be. Learn more here.
