Q & A with George Washington University Medical Student Naja Fadul
Naja Fadul just finished her first year as a medical student at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She graduated from UMD in 2021 with a degree in Physiology and Neurobiology. At Maryland, she engaged in research through the Gemstone Program and served as the president of a nonprofit organization, Girls for Girls, which started as a way to support peers through the power of community and evolved to address both local and global issues. These experiences reinforced her desire to pursue a career in medicine and contribute to the advancement of healthcare.
Why Medicine?
I chose this profession because I was inspired by mentors who I saw serve their community during times of injury, illness, and crisis, and it left me with a strong desire to serve my community in the same capacity. I'm particularly interested in Disaster Medicine, and I look forward to exploring this subject further as I progress through my studies. In addition to my academic pursuits, I'm also eager to get involved in student organizations, research opportunities, and plentiful community outreach initiatives here at GW.
Were there any other career paths you may have considered before you decided to pursue a career in healthcare?
While I kept an open mind as to what career I would ultimately pursue as I entered university, I was certainly influenced by early exposure to healthcare. In my case, I was first exposed to the field of healthcare since I started working as a medical office receptionist at the age of 14. I continued engaging in the field of healthcare in different capacities as I got older through roles like medical assistant, scribe, and administrative assistant, and those experiences are what shaped my intention to serve my community as a doctor. Watching providers become investigators to reach a diagnosis, navigate a difficult conversation with a patient and her child, then provide reassurance as they step into a new reality left me inspired.
What benefits, if any did you gain from taking a gap year? In your experience, is there a stigma about medical school students who have taken one or multiple gap year among the medical student community?
I took two gap years before entering medical school, and I feel that it was entirely worth it; I gained valuable professional and research experience during this time and it ensured that I could take my MCAT feeling prepared. While I was an undergraduate student, I did feel that there was some stigma against doing so, but now that I’m in medical school, I realize I was completely mistaken. Gap years are increasingly common as gaining acceptance to medical school becomes more and more competitive, and in fact many of my classmates took at least one gap year.
I know how much we as pre-meds tend to compare ourselves to our peers and it can be easy to think you’re falling behind if you decide to take a gap year, but you can’t compare your journey to someone else’s. You’ll realize once you get to medical school that you are now learning on the same playing field as your future colleagues, and gap years where people gain valuable skills and have enriching experiences are viewed favorably as far as I’ve experienced.
What extracurricular activity/activities do you think best prepared you for medical school?
I think that the best extracurricular you can engage in before applying for medical school is one that gives you clinical experience where you are in the room with the doctor and the patient. It not only gives you the opportunity to learn about what it is you are going to be doing as a doctor, but it also gives you a chance to reflect on whether this is indeed a career that you want to pursue. Medical school is a substantial commitment of not only money but also time (7+ years after getting your bachelor’s degree).
How and when did you prepare for the MCAT?
I primarily studied for my MCAT during a gap year and broke it up into two main phases. The first was a content review phase where I studied the relevant subjects to make sure my base of knowledge was strong. I used anki daily to retain what I was learning up to the date of the exam. The next phase was primarily practice questions. uWorld is an excellent resource for this, and of course, the practice exams you can get from the AAMC.
Did your experience in the Gemstone Honors Research Program contribute to your preparedness for medical school in any way(s)?
Research is likely something you’ll be engaged with in some capacity or another when you enter medical school. Looking back , I appreciate the introduction to research and its collaborative nature that was afforded to me through my experience with Gemstone.
What are the challenges you face in medical school so far?
As a first year, my biggest challenge has been exploring and experimenting with my study routine. Thankfully, there are ample 3rd party resources such as Board & Beyond, sketchy, Anki, etc. available to medical students, but deciding what to use and how you will integrate those resources in your studying can be a process.
What hobbies do you have outside of medicine and how do you balance between studying and making time for other activities?
Outside of my studies, I enjoy cycling the trails accessible from Washington D.C. as well as participating in casual soccer games with my classmates. I’m sure pre-med students have already heard that it’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance, but make sure to take this seriously as you transition into medical school so you don’t burn yourself out! Making time for hobbies and health help me ensure I’m at my best both inside and outside of the classroom. And though the academic demands of medical school are no joke, you will have time for those things, I promise!
Why did you choose George Washington School of Medicine?
In addition to allowing me to be close to my family, George Washington has an excellent MD program that places a heavy emphasis on clinical public health which aligns with my professional goals.