Weaving in details about how he prepares his top-rated Indian dish, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) graduate Mohammed Madani, MD, used his personal statement to provide future employers with a unique analogy that demonstrated his neurology smarts.
“Biryani is a gourmet South-East Asian cuisine cooked with meat, rice and 15-25 spices,” Madani explained. “Someone who is familiar with the variations — which spice, the order of the spices and the quantity of each spice — can tell if you have what it takes to make it correctly. It’s like the brain — a perfect machine and if something is wrong, you have to know all the variations to figure it out.”
Madani is eager to begin his four-year neurology residency at West Virginia University. “It has a renowned academic program, a well-rounded curriculum, friendly environment and a familial feeling. It just felt right.” After residency, he hopes to also have a hand in neuroscience research and medical education so he can give back to the mentors and community members who supported him throughout his academic journey.
Healthcare Variations
Originally from Mysore in Southern India, the youngest of four children moved throughout the world due to his father’s position as a pulmonologist with the World Health Organization. “I was exposed to several different cultures and healthcare systems and saw how those different systems affect people. I gravitated to the medical field because I liked the humanitarian aspect of it.” Madani hopes to give back to underprivileged communities in the future, something he began before medical school by providing counseling services and health checkups at several free clinics in India.
The bowtie and cinema enthusiast, and his bride of six months are excited to move to Morgantown, West Virginia as it is equal driving distance between both sets of parents. Reflecting on his med school experience, he encourages future students to consider RUSM for their education. “They provide great support and excellent exposure to clinicals, offering rotations at some incredible facilities in the US.”
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