By: Nayab Khan, MS-2.

Nayab Khan is a 2nd year podiatric medical student at New York College of Podiatric Medicine. She is a finalist for the Women’s Month Scholarship.

Growing up in a Pakistani family as the first child of four, I have worked tirelessly to guide my parents and siblings through unfamiliar and tumultuous times. I am grateful for the responsibility this bestowed on me as it has helped me shape my own unique identity as a medical student. With this, I strive to obtain a career that allows me to work at the intersection of science and administration.

During my undergraduate years, I decided to become involved in both the pre-medical and political science community. I was determined to learn more about the relationship between these two fields. I became President and Treasurer of Hunter College’s Pre-health club and Head Delegate for Model United Nations (MUN). Through the latter position, I served in conferences alongside committees involved in the World Health Organization (WHO). Inspired by international politics and advocacy, I learned negotiation skills, public speaking, and diplomacy.

In the fall of 2019, I became the main APMSA Delegate for the Class of 2023. During my first House of Delegates Meeting, I learned the importance of acquiring and disseminating information in the field. This furthered my understanding of the disparity between science and administration. I decided to learn more about the distribution of information, so I ran and was elected to be the Council on Podiatric Medicine liaison from APMSA. Now, I have a voice for the podiatric medical students both as a representative from NYCPM but also as a representative for APMSA.

Now, I have a voice for the podiatric medical students both as a representative from NYCPM but also as a representative for APMSA.

Currently, I am examining CPME 320 revisions, the “Standards and Requirements for Approval of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residencies.” This revision to the residency requirements is incredibly pertinent to current students. My plan is to obtain concise information and host a town hall to encourage open dialogue amongst students in regards to the results. In addition to CPME, I also serve on the public relations committee for APMSA where I publish weekly “Women in Podiatry Wednesday” posts. I engage with female residents to write features about them to gain further insight, as well as educating others about our community.

This revision to the residency requirements is incredibly pertinent to current students. My plan is to obtain concise information and host a town hall to encourage open dialogue amongst students in regards to the results.

I genuinely enjoy being able to help collaborate on events and meet a variety of students. As a student ambassador, I interview the upcoming classes, to be sure they would demonstrate the same qualities NYCPM students do. As a previous EC for both bacteriology and lower extremity anatomy, I strived to communicate the needs of the class to the professor in a concerted manner. After publishing in NYCPM’s Peer Medical Review Volume 28 last year and taking LEAN, everything I had researched previously finally made sense. This made me curious about other ailments affecting the foot, so I am currently pursuing research with a physician in the area.

Likewise, with my family, I am grateful for the responsibility NYCPM has given me. I have had the opportunity to fuse my political and medical career in an effort to advance our society.

I have had the opportunity to fuse my political and medical career in an effort to advance our society.

By Nayab Khan, MS–2

School: New York College of Podiatric Medicine

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