Ali, a student from the Medical Rotations Concentration, sits for a brief interview in the evening. On the steps of a residence hall, he discusses the first day of his Concentration, the oath he took with the other doctors in training, and his hopes for the summer.
Why don’t we start with your name, living group, and the Concentration you’re enrolled in.
Okay. My name is Ali, and I just started the Medical Rotations Concentration.
Can you tell me a little bit about what drew you to that Concentration?
I've always wanted to serve. I've always wanted to be a part of something bigger than myself. That's also what draws me to the military. I just love medicine, and I come from a family of doctors. And I get a sense of satisfaction helping people.
Can you tell me a little bit about taking your oath in Medical Rotations today, and what taking on that kind of responsibility means to you?
I don't like letting people down. So I hope I can keep it. I chose the second oath, not the Hippocratic Oath. I remember it started with an M.
Why did you choose that oath over the perhaps more famous Hippocratic Oath?
It just related to me more. The Hippocratic Oath, it mentions all these Greek guys I don’t know and involved a lot of Greek mythology that I didn't relate to. It didn't feel right for me at all, honestly. Before going into it, I thought the only oath a doctor took was to do no harm. I thought that you do no harm, and that was it.
What are you looking forward to in the Concentration?
Medicine has always intimidated me because it's got a sense of difficulty and exclusivity, especially considering all the years of medical school, pre-med, and residency that you have to do. I feel I can get a more grounded view of medicine here, or a more accessible view of it that doesn't feel so intimidating, or like a Herculean task.
What are you excited about for this session (outside of your Concentration)?
I'm really excited to just be with everyone on my floor. My counselor, too. I really like him. He's really laid back and really fun to talk to. I don’t want to sound cliché, but I’m just excited to hang out with my friends.
Will Walawender