Mohammed Amish-Malik

Mohammed Amish-Malik

Mr. Amish-Malik participated in SHPEP in 2019 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He is a pre-medical, second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Epidemiology and will graduate in May 2024.

What led to your interest in a health profession?

One afternoon in September, my mother, sister, and I drove to Mercy Hospital in Iowa City to visit my father after his heart attack. When I learned my father was struggling in the hospital, my heart began racing, and anxiety spread throughout my body. However, my father’s physician and nurses at the hospital assured my family and me that they would help him get better. As a result of their kind and optimistic attitudes, my father was more open to suggestions regarding how he could take better care of himself. He achieved a healthier body weight by going for walks, eating healthier, and exercising more frequently. He gradually transitioned from being tense and frowning to being relaxed and smiling. Having experienced the impact that excellent medical care had on my father’s life made me determined to become a physician so that I could have a similar impact on others.

What obstacles did you overcome on your educational or career journey?

As the son of immigrant parents, I come from a family of low socioeconomic status and minimal social connections to the U.S. Consequently, my exposure to physicians and mentors who could help me become one has been limited. As a first-generation college student, the responsibility of navigating the pre-medical program fell to me. During my master’s program, taking the initiative to reach out to my support network helped me overcome these barriers and strengthened my resolve to pursue a medical career.

To support my family in paying rent and tuition for three children, I had to work throughout the first year of my graduate studies. Although working during graduate school while balancing academic activities was difficult, I developed strong time management skills and was able to overcome this challenge.

How did SHPEP influence you?

I am grateful for SHPEP because I developed lifelong relationships with mentors and peers in many health fields. Many of the medical students I met there, in fact, are currently guiding me in my journey to become a physician. Not only they have offered me guidance in what to do in terms of strengthening my application but also activities that helped me become a stronger version of myself such as journaling and meditation.

What advice do you have for students pursuing a health professional career?

Pursuing a career in this field is not a job. It is a calling. Take initiative and make connections. Strive to make yourself better by taking small steps. If you are willing to make reasonable sacrifices, you will get there!