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FEATURE

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a class of pre-med students during the summer of 2015. Being an found myself unable to attend medical school since I was not a per-
immigrant allowed me to form a special bond with the refugee pa- manent resident. Therefore, I joined a microbiology lab and worked
tients at the San Antonio Refugee Health Clinic, where I served as on a Mycoplasma pneumoniae toxin, a research project that was
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one of the medical student leaders. My service there allowed me to published, too. As I started medical school in 2014, I became in-
notice an improvement in my clinical skills as a pre-clinical medical volved in a community needs-based assessment for the local LGBT
student. Therefore, I launched a research project to assess the im- community. Our study findings showed a dire need for compassion-
pact of volunteering on medical students. Today, using empirical ate health services, which we were able to translate into the Pride
evidence, I strongly advocate the integration of the Student-Faculty Community Clinic last year, now another SFCP.
Collaborative Practices (SFCP) into the formal medical curriculum.
Restricting immigration and IMGs:
Dr. Badawy, Dr. Ghumman, and myself are merely individual ex-
amples of what immigrants bring to the U.S. healthcare system in
patient care, education, and biomedical research. However, under
the current political climate, immigrants feel more restricted and
their contributions may suffer. “Most of my foreign colleagues
would not want to travel back to their home countries to visit their
families nowadays. They worked so hard to get here and they would-
n’t want to take any risks,” Saad says, referring to the potential com-
plications of re-entry to the U.S. now. Even if the rhetoric does not
translate to actual policies, “it still feels mentally exhausting.” I could
not agree more. While it is customary for 4th-year medical students
to travel internationally before starting residency, I find myself hes-
itant to go visit my brother in Australia even though I am a perma-
nent resident of the U.S. “Restricting IMGs may have a negative
impact since they fill a large gap of healthcare access in the U.S.,”
adds Dr. Badawy. “IMGs also bring their experiences and unique
sets of skills that are invaluable to residency programs and the pa-
tient populations.”
Immigrants come to this country seeking a better life, willing to
work their hearts out to succeed. We believe that the U.S. is truly
the land of opportunities. For those of us who make it here, we
feel extremely fortunate, we cherish the opportunity, and we take
Impact on Biomedical Research: nothing for granted. “I feel extremely grateful for being supported
IMGs were responsible for 18 percent of all U.S. publications in throughout my residency and beyond. I’ve learned so much, and
biomedical research. Twelve percent of NIH-funded grants went I’ve found myself spontaneously engaged in making a positive
to IMGs, and they led 18.5 percent of all clinical trials in the U.S.5 change whether large or small. They really push you to be the best
Dr. Badawy studied the variation in recorded respiratory rates in version of yourself,” says Dr. Badawy. “It is a sacrifice to live away
hospitalized adults during his fellowship at UTSW. His published from family, but I am very grateful for this opportunity. This coun-
piece of work resulted in important considerations for the clinical try is unique, and it allows you to maximize your potential,” says
assessments of critically-ill patients. Dr. Ghumman assessed the Saad jubilantly. He added, “I wouldn’t have become the physician
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contrast-induced acute kidney injury in peripheral angiography pa- that I am if I didn’t come here. I would do it all over again.”
tients, which resulted in an important published work. Saad plans I certainly would, too.
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to continue clinical cardiology research during his fellowship and
beyond, a goal I share with him. Fadi Adel, MD a graduate of the Long School of Medicine
During my undergraduate years, I discovered my passion for basic at UT Health San Antonio. He began his internal medicine res-
research and volunteered in a cell biology lab at UT Austin, where idency in July 2018 at the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Med-
I studied clathrin-mediated endocytosis. After graduating in 2012, I ical Education in Rochester, Minn.

34 San Antonio Medicine • August 2018