As an undergraduate student at McMaster University in Ontario, Arawins majored in Honors Biology and minored in Psychology with the intention of going to medical school directly after university; however, when a position in the public health sector presented itself, he decided it was an opportunity worth exploring.
“I worked in public health for about a year and a half, and the part that I most enjoyed was the interaction with the patients. The experience reinforced my desire to want to be the one managing my patients’ care, so I decided to explore my options in terms of medical schools, which led me to RUSM.”
Arawins learned about Ross University School of Medicine from the daughter of a family friend, who was a RUSM student. Liking what he learned about the school – especially the opportunities afforded to Canadian students – Arawins decided to apply.
From the get-go, Arawins had a great experience at RUSM.
“There was so much support for us in Dominica,” he explained. “I thought RUSM did a really good job at helping us through the rigors of medical school. My mindset was pretty focused on passing my Step 1 and getting to the next phase, so I kept my head down, studied hard, and made it through.”
Arawins noted that being able to do all of his core rotations in one hospital was a real plus for him.
“It was very helpful to have that home base for a year and a half,” he said. “I had the advantage of being in a tracked program, and was able to make connections and maintain relationships with physicians and other students. Afterward, I was able to choose different spots for my elective rotations, which was great as well and ultimately helped me choose my future specialty in Internal Medicine.”
When it came time to explore prospective residency locations, Arawins applied to programs both inside and outside the National Resident Matching Program® The MATCH℠, but didn’t seriously consider the possibility of obtaining a pre-MATCH position. Yet, that’s exactly what he did – at CIFC Greater Danbury Community Health Center.
When asked how he feels to be on the brink of beginning his Internal Medicine residency, Arawins said, “It’s a great feeling – this is something I’ve worked for a long, long time for. No one really knows the rigors of what it takes to become a physician except the people who go through the experience with you. To finally be in this position past all the stresses and doubts feels incredible. I’m looking forward to having more responsibility and entering a whole different level in my training.”
He added, “RUSM is the tool to get you to where you want to be in your career. It’s all about making the most of the opportunities RUSM provides.”
