Coming Full Circle: Jana Elkashef’s Path from MedAchieve to TouroCOM

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Walden, N.Y. just a 25-minute drive away from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) in Middletown. I graduated from Valley Central High School.

When and how did you realize you wanted to participate in MedAchieve?

I always knew I wanted to become a physician but I didn’t have much exposure to medicine growing up, as there are no doctors in my family. Hopefully, I will get to be the first one. While in middle school, I was having a meal with my family in Middletown when a medical student overheard me speaking with my family in our native tongue, Arabic. Curious about our origins, he came over and introduced himself. He said he attended TouroCOM. That was the first time I heard about Touro. I was ecstatic to learn there was a medical school in the community where I was raised. When I got to high school, the guidance counselors told us about MedAchieve and I leapt at the chance to see the school and learn more about osteopathic medicine!

What did you like about the program?

I absolutely loved MedAchieve! From the first day, you could feel the enthusiasm from the medical students. They were so excited to pass down some knowledge and they made the program so enjoyable. The professors gave us great lectures about different medical topics. My favorite session was the cadaver lab. I was able to hold a heart and brain. It was an eye-opening and humbling experience I will never forget. Now, going to the anatomy lab to identify structures on the cadavers I have a sense of appreciation for the art of medicine.

Did you complete both years of MedAchieve – MedStart and MedExcel?

Yes, I completed MedAchieve just when COVID hit. I started MedStart in 2019 in person and did MedExcel online, which finished in 2021.

How did TouroCOM nurture you during this period and show you that you could pursue your dream?

TouroCOM allowed my passion to become a physician grow and encouraged me. The students and faculty were so supportive and friendly and the collaborative environment made me want to come here as a student. My DO mentor encouraged me not to give up on becoming a doctor when the path gets difficult. I knew that the TouroCOM family had my back.

How did high school and college impact your journey to medicine?

In college at SUNY New Paltz I majored in biology and was in an accelerated pre-osteopathic program with seminars. TouroCOM Associate Dean of Students Frank Rose came to speak about TouroCOM and invited me back to school to talk to the current MedAchieve students about my college experience as a pre-med. We also had DO residents teach us osteopathic manipulative medicine, and I volunteered at Garnet Health Medical Center, where I spoke to patients about their lives. I also scribed in the ER at Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital, where I translated for an Arabic-speaking patient and realized I made an impact on his visit and health. Those experiences showed me how compassion and empathy can make medicine rewarding. Talking to people in times of unease put me in awe of humanity and inspired me to always be someone people can confide in. I realized the importance of human touch in medicine. As a daughter of Egyptian immigrants, I also realized I want to be an advocate for healthier communities, especially for my family in Egypt and elsewhere.

When and why did you decide to pursue the master’s program?

During my shifts at Garnet and St. Lukes, the TouroCOM medical students were on their rotations and I got to see them in action. After seeing both the preclinical at MedAchieve and clinical side at the hospitals, I decided to apply to the master’s program to gain the knowledge and skills to meet the rigorous demands of the DO program.

What does it feel like being enrolled now at TouroCOM and what comes next?

It feels like I completed a full circle. I remember when I was a junior in high school sitting in the lecture room during MedAchieve, listening to a lecture. Then, I became a speaker for the MedAchieve students as a college senior and now I am sitting in the same lecture room as a Touro student! I feel back at home in my community. I hope to continue at Touro for the DO program next year and I would also love to become a MedAchieve mentor as a DO student too!