Q&A with Student Senate Vice Chair Inaara Malick
What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine?
When I was seven, I looked up to see my two-year-old brother fall into the pool; adrenaline took over as I jumped in to pull him out. On the deck, I looked down at him gasping for air, choking on the water he had consumed, but I felt so helpless. It became clear to me that I never wanted to feel that way again; instead, I wanted to be the one people turned to for help. I wanted to be a doctor, a hero. Through my experiences, as a patient, family member, student, intern and employee, I learned that doctors are not simply heroes. Healthcare providers are support systems for scared patients without friends or family, advocates for patients in underrepresented communities, translators of medical jargon to concerned families and much more.
Why did you choose Baylor College of Medicine?
Being from Houston, I always dreamed of going to Baylor. So many of my own amazing doctors trained at Baylor. Ultimately, I was drawn to Baylor because of its diverse patient population. We get to rotate at Ben Taub Hospital, the VA, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, and Texas Children’s Hospital, so we see all sorts of patients from all walks of life. That experience has been unparalleled, and the best lessons I have learned throughout medical school have been from my patients.
What are your main academic and research interests at Baylor College of Medicine?
Ultimately, I decided on anesthesia for lots of reasons, but one of them being the emphasis on patient safety and quality improvement. I’ve gotten to work on multiple research projects, including examining the overutilization of imaging in diagnosing gallbladder disease, the screening tool used to determine if a psychiatric patient needs labs and the safety of robotic vs. laparoscopic cholecystectomies. I’m excited to keep working on these types of projects, so I can be a champion for my patients inside and outside of the operating room.
What are your career goals after graduating from Baylor College of Medicine?
After graduating, I hope to match into an anesthesia residency! That is about as far as I’m thinking ahead right now. Anesthesia has many different fellowships and career options, but I’m hoping to keep an open mind throughout residency and ultimately decide which avenue to pursue based on which cases I enjoy the most.
How has Baylor College of Medicine shaped your approach to medicine and patient care?
Baylor has taught me that it is okay to ask for help. I feel like as students, we put an unreal amount of pressure on ourselves to be perfect, but at the end of the day we are learners. Baylor has unparalleled resources that support us and encourage us to ask for help when we need it. I will always remember this going forward, because physicians are life-long learners, and it is always okay to stop and ask for help or clarification because it may very well save a life one day.
