How to Position Yourself to Buy a House Before Residency

The start of residency is a huge transition. Specifically, thousands of newly-minted doctors prepare to move around the country to start their residency training programs. Most medical students spent their time in medical school renting apartments. So the transition to residency often brings up an important question: Should you continue to rent or should you buy a house before residency? Unfortunately, there isn’t any teaching in medical school about how to position yourself to buy a house before residency (or at any point for that matter). More than that, owning a home is expensive and the average medical student in…

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Becoming a Doctor: Family, Patients, and Personal Growth

In just two days, I will become a doctor. Writing those words out truly gives me all the feels. I…will…become…a…doctor! When I was a care-free four-year-old in Barbados, my pastor prophesied that I would become a physician. At the time, I didn’t take much stock in what he said. After all, I was a four-year-old focused on my latest coloring masterpiece in church. However, his words stayed with me, such that whenever little Atasha was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer was always, “I’m going to be a doctor.” Fast forward 20+ years, and…

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My One Year Blogging Anniversary

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m absolutely SHOOK that it’s been a WHOLE YEAR since I started blogging! I started blogging this time last year when I’d returned to clinical medicine after a year-long stint at business school. As you’re probably used to by now, I wanted to take some time to reflect on what this one-year blogging anniversary means to me. Through this medium, I have learned so much about myself, my followers, and the world around me. Blogging is something that brings me immense joy, and I’m forever grateful for all of you who follow me…

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Recap of SNMA AMEC 2019: Mecca of Black Excellence in Medicine

This year, the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) showed out at the Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC)! SNMA is a student group comprised of black medical students across the United States. Students at Howard and Meharry medical schools started this student group in 1964 “to nurture and support the academic enrichment of its medical student members, but also to serve communities in a very real and proactive way.” (snma.org) The AMEC 2019 conference theme was The Call for Excellence: Improving the Future of Medicine through Leadership, Service, and Activism. The conference consisted of a variety of workshops and panel discussions to help…

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Why You Don’t Need to be a “Premed Major” to Go to Medical School

The Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) statistics show that roughly 70% of medical school applicants choose to study science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) majors in college. Though STEM majors represent the vast majority of majors chosen by pre-medical students, it is by no means a requirement that premeds study your typical premed majors to gain admission into medical school. In fact, for many medical school-bound undergraduates, a non-STEM major is likely the better option for you to ensure that you maximize your time and educational resources in college.  WHY CONSIDER A Non-traditional premed MAJOR? Benefits of a non-tradition premed…

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