Inspira Advantage interviewed Dr. Nasiya Ahmed to help pre-med students. Dr. Ahmed is board certified in internal medicine, geriatrics, and palliative care at Village Physicians, with a career spanning academic leadership, grant-funded research, and national and international medical education. She has served as Associate Professor at UT Health, medical director at Intercede Health, and remains passionate about applying her multidisciplinary expertise to promote health and wellness in adults of all ages.
What motivated you to pursue a career in medicine?
I pursued medical school because I enjoyed working with people and science and it was a career that offered both. It also had so many options after I graduated, not only in terms of the various residency fields, but also I have known physicians to become authors, illustrators, lawyers, etc.
What do you wish you had known about the medical school application process before you applied?
What I wished I had known about the medical school process is that it is not always about the grades and the MCAT score. A lot of it is about your experiences as an applicant. Sadly, some of it is also about the connections you have.
What was the biggest challenge that caught you off guard when you sat down to write the MCAT?
I don't know if anything caught me off guard. The MCAT was a difficult test. I started studying 6 months before the exam. I prefer to do things on my own; so I dedicated one hour 4 days a week at least. I went through multiple study guides. And I prayed a lot, because I didn't want to take it again.
How much work experience did you gain before applying to medical school? What opportunities did you pursue, and what helped you the most during the application process?
In highschool I worked as a cashier. In college I worked as a biology and math tutor (my undergraduate degree was in mathematics). I also volunteered in the hospital in the PACU. I think what was more important for me is that I went to a small undergraduate college. The professors were extremely supportive, both academically and in providing future career advice. I also was able to participate in a lot of different associations, such as the International Students Association, Latin Club, etc.
Did you have any setbacks or rejections during the med school admissions process, and what did you learn from those experiences?
I did not have any setbacks during the application process.
What led you to specialize in Geriatric Medicine? What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue your specialty?
I specialized in Geriatric Medicine. Before I entered medical school, I was sure I did not want to specialize in anything. I was of the opinion that specialists become one sided and I wanted to treat the patient as a whole. I did my residency training in Arizona where they required all internal medicine residents to do a month of geriatrics and I really enjoyed it. I realized that there are so many medical issues in the older population that are often attributed to old age, but are treatable. I realized the importance of focusing on quality of life as part of the process of making health care decisions. Lastly, I was always really close to my grandparents and I really enjoyed the wisdom and the stories this population of patients have to offer.
If someone wants to start their own practice, what does that path look like after finishing medical school?
I encourage everyone to start their own practice. In medical school we are not taught the business side of medicine and this is the rate limiting step for most. I learned the business side of medicine at my first job, an academic position. While this was helpful, there is a huge learning curve when starting your practice and I tell people they just have to jump in and do it.
What advice would you give to someone who’s looking to start their practice today?
The best piece of advice I can give before starting your own practice is to envision your life both outside of the practice and within the practice; this should be the starting point. I really enjoy mentoring physicians starting their own practice; I think as physicians we can bring a lot of individualized talent to the healthcare field.
Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Dr. Nasiya Ahmed to help future doctors understand the challenges and rewards of a medical career. Learn more about how our medical school admissions counselors can help you get into medical school today.
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