Personal and cultural experiences – such as watching a family member endure chemotherapy – can fuel a passion to pursue a career in medicine. Three female medical students described the “why” of their career path, helping them earn the American Muslim Women Physicians Association (AMWPA) Merit Award.
Blessing Johnny, Kim Nguyen, and Nadia Zulfa Quadri (left to right above) each will receive a $1,000 scholarship based on academic achievement and community service. The scholarships, administered through the Texas Medical Association, are available for female students who are U.S. citizens enrolled in and attending any Texas medical school.
Ms. Johnny, a first-year student at UT Southwestern Medical School, said hearing stories from her mom, a nurse, and watching her brother undergo chemotherapy helped fuel her desire to pursue a medical career.
“I am just one person, but with completing my medical education, I plan to support people through their most vulnerable moments and break the generational trends of the least cared-for,” she said.
Ms. Nguyen, a first-generation Asian American with parents who didn’t speak English, is a second-year student at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. She plans to practice pediatrics in her hometown of Houston with a focus on serving patients with limited access to care. Ms. Nguyen also aims to advocate for health literacy, particularly for patients who may have a language barrier.
Ms. Zulfa Quadri, a first-year student at The University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, said she wants to help provide health care for refugees, building on efforts she began during college to coordinate blood drives and health fairs for refugees in the Houston area.
“It is an incredible opportunity to use my background as a native Urdu speaker to form a special bond with the patients as a fellow Muslim American,” said Ms. Zulfa Quadri. “I am reminded of how important my representation is to their health care. Understanding their cultural context is crucial in providing them resources to successfully integrate into the community here.”
AMWPA members are Muslim women physicians, dentists, and medical students. The organization is based in Dallas-Fort Worth.
To find out more about the scholarships, email Azalia Perez.
Tammy Wishard
Account Manager, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1470