Resident Physician Contributing Writer
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Ervin (Erv) is beginning his general intern year at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and recently graduated from the Uniformed Services Univerity of the Health Sciences in May 2022. While in medical school, he was the co-director for the on-campus peer-led curriculum aimed to foster conversations about diversity, bias, discrimination, and inclusion in both medicine and the military. His interests include medical education, promoting diversity, and utilizing the arts to augment the healing nature of medicine.
Entering the field of medicine can be daunting, especially if you are the first physician in the family. Current intern Dr. Ervin Anies discusses the emotions associated with assimilating into the culture of medicine and how we as providers can use our diversity to foster better relationships between providers and our patients.
Max Hawkins, a second-year resident, reflects on his medical education journey, the process of consent and the importance of trusting that “gut feeling.”
An ICU nurse turned medical student reflects on the COVID-19 pandemic’s severe and lasting impact on health care workers and the acute shift to the new normal of expectations in the inpatient setting.
Medical student Atisa Paudel reflects on the impact of her immigrant background on her medical education.
Medical student Kayla Schmittau reflects on her experience with a patient with substance use disorder and the importance of patient advocacy.
Medical student Navjot Singh teaches us how to surmount racism with composure, grace, and courage.
Medical Student Contributing Writer
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
My name is Navjot Singh, and I am a fourth-year medical student at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. I decided to pursue a career in medicine after having a profound experience along with wonderful mentorship during a medical mission trip to an orphanage in India. Starting off as a volunteer with the escort department at RWJUH to eventually matriculating and now almost graduating medical school, it has been an amazing journey full of growth in retrospect. I plan to specialize in interventional spine and sports medicine, with a particular focus on minimally invasive spine interventions to target pain. In addition, I value selfless service as a core component of my career. During my time at RWJMS, I cofounded a health maintenance initiative that is currently in its fifth year of activity that provides the homeless population of New Brunswick, NJ with education and empowerment to take charge of their own health. I will be receiving a Distinction in Service to the Community award upon graduation for this project. I hope to exude positivity, acceptance, and genuine care to all of my future patients, colleagues, and mentors.
