Credit: Melissa Fabrizio
Julia Sawatzky
MD program, Class of 2021
Why do you want to become a doctor?
It's been quite a process to decide to do this. I started out dancing at the School of Alberta Ballet and really wanted to be a professional dancer and that kind of got me interested in human anatomy. When I started to talk to doctors about medicine I got much more interested in the care aspect of it and the human side of medicine. That's really why I'm here.
Why did you choose the U of A?
One of the biggest deciding factors was my interview experience here. It was so unbelievably positive. You come out of your interview and there is a tunnel of people with their hands up and you run through and high-five them all. Everybody talks so highly about the student experience here and that was really important to me.
I also like that it's a four-year program. I think having the time to get to know these people and to have the mentorship of the staff over four years will help me choose a specialty, because I am really unsure at this point about what I want to do after medical school. I like that I'll have time here to figure those things out and really get to know this medical community.
Thomas Kellner
MD program, Class of 2021
Why do you want to become a doctor?
It's hard to say. Sometimes it's just one of those things that you feel. But since high school it has been a thing that I wanted to do. My parents are both physicians so I've had some experience in it, or at least exposure to the field. But really in my undergrad I did kinesiology and I started to see more of the health-science sort of things and I did some shadowing in ERs and meeting docs and things like that.
The fundamental thing for me about why I wanted to do medicine is the patient interaction. It is about being their healer, being the last line of defense for some people, or for others the first person they go to for help. That is something that really appeals to me.
Why did you choose the U of A?
I have some familial connections here. I'm from Calgary, I did my schooling in Vancouver, but both of my parents did their undergrads here. My grandfather was the chancellor at one point quite a while ago. Even the place that I live in McKernan is blocks away from places where my grandfather, grandmother, mom and dad all grew up. So it's kind of a homey place for me too. It's history but it's still brand new.
Do you have any nerves coming into the program?
Oh yes, absolutely. You get this euphoric high when you get in, because you've worked so hard for so long. As August approached I started realizing like, 'Oh crap, what did I get myself into?' But it's totally worth it in the end. At least I think it is now. We'll find out." (laughs)
Ammar Ghalab
MD program, Class of 2021
Why do you want to become a doctor?
A couple of years back I read this article and it was basically titled, 'Me? I'm just a GP.' And saying 'just' was kind of like it was a small thing. But then that GP went on to describe his day-to-day interactions and says, 'Today I met with this old couple who is trying to have a baby. And I met with a 14-year-old who is trying to hide that she might have a baby. And I met with this person, and I met with that person,' and I saw that in one day this person had an impact on maybe 15 different individuals and made their lives better. I thought, 'That's the kind of job I want to do, where I go in everyday, come home, and can see that I helped people.' That's exactly why I want to do this.
What are you most excited about?
I look forward to the interactions with patients and shadowing. I've already shadowed an emergency physician and I absolutely loved it. My first ever shift started at 10 p.m. and ended at 6 a.m. I had just got back from the U.K. and I was already jetlagged, so it worked out for me. But I just had a blast. There weren't a lot of people in the emergency room, so I got a lot of time to chat with the physician. He was the nicest guy I ever met. So that's what I'm looking forward to-those late-night shifts and working while you're half asleep. (laughs)