On this page, you will find answers to many of the most commonly asked questions about this post-doctoral fellowship program.

The Postdoctoral Rehabilitation Health Psychology Fellowship Program at Hurley Medical Center (HMC) offers two two-year fellowship positions, with two areas of emphasis, each with a fully developed clinical and educational curriculum. They are well-supervised, hands-on, and highly rated by past graduates.

The Hurley program enables fellows to further develop their skills as clinical psychologists while obtaining additional training in one of the following areas:

• Adult Rehabilitation Psychology: Accepting applications through Jan. 15, 2019, for Sept. 1, 2019, start date.
• Pediatric Rehabilitation Psychology: Position filled; apply by Jan. 15, 2020, for 2020-2022 fellowship.

Most graduates of the program obtain employment in a medical center and remain active in medical education, hospital practice, rehabilitation, or clinical neuropsychology practice. More than 90% report that the training they received was very closely related to their current employment.

Rehabilitation Psychology Fellowship Program Strengths

Multidisciplinary team: Rehabilitation Psychology fellows work in various multidisciplinary team settings and gain significant experience in medical education, scholarly activity, and clinical care. The fellow has the opportunity to provide preventive and treatment-oriented consultation for patients in acute ambulatory, outpatient, primary care, inpatient, intensive care and rehabilitation settings in order to understand the interactions of disease, medicine and behavioral factors, as well as to learn techniques of assessment, therapy and management. Individual and family conferences are part of the comprehensive experience.

Academic experience: The Rehabilitation Psychology Fellowship Program also provides fellows with opportunities to conduct research, as well as to teach medical students and residents at Hurley, which is the only hospital in the county with an independent Department of Psychology composed of a dedicated team of psychologists who see patients daily in the hospital. Collaboration with ongoing projects is welcome, and faculty provide mentoring to help the Fellow develop and carry out his or her own senior project prior to exiting the program.

1^st accredited program in nation: Hurley has maintained a medical psychology fellowship since 1993, and this program (in a prior partnership) was the first in the country to receive specialty accreditation in Clinical Health Psychology through the American Psychological Association.

Extensive range of clinical conditions: Hurley is a 443-bed teaching hospital with a 16-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit, a Level I Trauma Center, an ICU, pediatric ICU, burn unit, and >100,000 visits per year in the Emergency Department (including the Pediatric Emergency Department). The Fellow is exposed to a wide spectrum of chronic illness, neurological diseases and injuries, such as:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Developmental disorders
• Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia
• Epilepsy
• Heart Disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Traumatic amputation
• Traumatic brain injury

Diverse array of assessments: Fellows also have a chance to conduct many types of assessments to address areas such as attention and concentration, emotional adjustment, language, memory, speech and motor development, personality or behavioral changes, executive functioning, visuospatial skills and more.

Quality of life — both professional and personal — is an important component of the fellowship. The Fellows’ schedules are reasonable with liberal fringe benefits and competitive stipends, so they are able to focus their energy on developing their skills as psychologists and educators. Located an hour north of Detroit, Hurley Medical Center is at the center of a vibrant urban and educational setting, with many of Michigan’s natural wonders just a short drive away. The Flint and Genesee County area itself also has a lively cultural center, downtown, and lots of festivals and nationally recognized farmers’ markets.

Click here for more information on the adult rehabilitation fellowship position.

Spotlight

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Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the two-year rehabilitation psychology fellowship program, which begins Sept. 1, 2019, applicants must meet the minimum entrance requirements by the start date of the program:

• Completion of doctoral studies at an APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral program (PhD or PsyD)
• Completion of an APPIC-accredited internship
• A license in the State of Michigan
• Highly desirable: Strong foundation in hospital practice, rehabilitation psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and ultimate interest in a rehabilitation-oriented career

Application Instructions

1. Register for the Association for Post-doctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN) match at the APPCN match website.
2. After you have registered for the match, submit the items below directly to the fellowship program coordinator. Please request a read receipt to confirm delivery.

• Letter of Interest
• Curriculum Vitae
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
• Official graduate school transcripts (may be mailed or emailed but must come directly from the institution to Hurley Medical Center)
• Two samples of neuropsychological reports that you have completed (with patient identifiers blacked out)

Deadline:
January 15, 2019

Interviews

Interviews are expected to occur in January and will continue until the two available positions are filled. In addition, interviews will take place at the annual International Neuropsychology Society meeting in February.

Contact Information & FAQs

Mailing address:
Coordinator Deborah Wright
Graduate Medical Education
1 Hurley Plaza, GME 10W
Flint, Michigan 48503

Email address:
Debi Wright

Questions:
See the FAQ section on this website, contact the coordinator at email address above, or contact:
Program Director Kirk Stucky PsyD
Email
Phone

Clinical Activities & Supervision

The clinical environment at Hurley Medical Center provides for advanced learning experiences. First-year fellows typically have 15-25 hours of patient contact per week, providing targeted assessments, interventions, and real-world practice. In many circumstances, fellows - with input from their supervisors - can select cases that will best enhance their knowledge base, providing a wide-ranging learning experience. Fellows learn evicence-based practice and how to develop and monitor appropriate treatment plans.

Main clinical activities include:

• Inpatient consultations
  • Typically requires the fellow to: respond within 24 hours of request, evaluate patient at bedside, write notes as required by Hurley standards, formally communicate with the referring physician.
• Psychological Testing
  • Conduct psychological, neuropsychological, and cognitive assessments. May include determining necessity/appropriateness of testing for a given patient, with guidance from supervisors.
• Outpatient Neuropsychological and Cognitive Testing
  • A fellow usually completes 20-30 outpatient evaluations during the first year and 30-45 evaluations during the second year. Completion of at least 50 outpatient evaluations is normally required to graduate in good standing from the Rehabilitation Psychology Fellowship. First-year fellows typically see one outpatient neuropsychology testing case every other week. Fellows are expected to complete their report within 1 week of the assessment and have 5 days to revise (per supervisor’s feedback), if needed.
  • Many clinical activities include one-on-one teaching/supervision from the supervisor. For example:
• Individual Supervision
  • Fellows have a least two hours of individual, face-to-face supervision each week, plus two or more supervisors during any one training year. Supervision occurs in multiple settings, such as durin rounds.. on the floor during patient-care activities, via phone, email, text-messaging, outpatient office, and other contexts.
• Patient-Care Rounds
  • The fellow participates weekly in patient-care rounds with hospital-based psychologists, exposing the fellow to patient-care coordination and discussions about clinical issues with deep educational value. Supervisors often conduct group discussions on educational topics that arise during clinical care.

Didactic Training

The fellowship provides a robust rehabilitation psychology curriculum, along with many elective seminars and activities to deepen knowledge and skills, while preparing fellows for a long and successful career in rehabilitation psychology.

• Weekly rehabilitation health psychology seminars*
• Professional development, leadership, and management seminars*
• Adult medical seminars (e.g., noon conferences, grand rounds; morbidity, mortality and improvement; tumor board)*
• Graduate Medical Education Combined Lectures (e.g., professionalism, wellness, cultural sensitivity, corporate compliance, confidentiality, risk management, health disparities, population health, quality and patient safety)*
• Trauma conference
• Psychopharmacology
• Hospital-wide committee participation (e.g., ethics, diversity and inclusion council)
• Book chapter review and journal club

*Required educational experiences

Teaching Activities

In addition to clinical activity, involvement in medical education is also a minor emphasis of the fellowship.

• Teaching, instruction, and shadowing of medical residents and medical students
• Formal didactic instruction to peers, medical residents and medical students on topics related to rehabilitation psychology, psychological testing, and neuropsychological and cognitive testing
• Community outreach
• Supervision of practicum students
• Curriculum development

Scholarly Activities

The program requires one scholarly project during the entire fellowship period. However, overall, the program ensures readiness for participation in a range of scholarly activities. It also promotes a scholarly approach to rehabilitation psychology practice through a robust educational curriculum. For those with more interest in scholarly activity, a variety of opportunities are available, with considerable support provided from fellowship faculty, an on-site library, and a dedicated research department at Hurley Medical Center.

Scholarly activities available for fellows include the following:

• Collaborative research studies
• Quality improvement projects
• Program evaluation
• Participation and eventual authorship of peer-reviewed works including posters, oral presentations, and journal articles

We offer a competitive salary and plenty of time off to enjoy Michigan’s great attractions - and a collegial learning environment. Here are the salary, benefits, and fun activities you will find at your Hurley fellowship:

• Competitive salary: $52,396
• Ample vacation time: 27 days (including personal and vacation time)
• Sick leave: 6 days
• National conference attendance OR resource money for computers, tablets, books, study materials or exam fees: $1250
• Affordable insurance for self or family - including partners and dependent children, biological or otherwise: health, dental, vision
• Meal cards for cafeteria and coffee shop: $800
• Health Insurance
• Dental Program
• Optical Program
• Life Insurance

Other Benefits

• 1:1 formal supervision and multiple informal supervision points
• Group supervision
• Lab coats & lab-coat laundering
• Business cards
• Library on site with 24-hour access
• Exercise room and relaxation room on site with 24-hour access
• Free parking
• Individual lockers and mailboxes
• Shared office with other rehabilitation psychology fellow
• Diverse patient population and multicultural environment
• Clinical instructor/faculty appointment with Michigan State University
• Opportunities for committee involvement
• Qualified for positions in roles spanning clinician, teacher, scholar, supervisor, and administrator upon graduation
• Active Housestaff Association, with soccer teams, bowling, skiing and picnics for all trainees at Hurley

Quality of Life

To promote wellness and add to your longevity in the field, we encourage fellows to take part in activities that give you energy and rejuvenation. Michigan and the Flint area provide plenty of opportunities:

• Detroit is just an hour away, with professional sports teams, casinos, world-class museums, restaurants and theater.
• The Flint and Genesee County area itself also has a lively cultural center, downtown, lots of festivals and nationally recognized farmers’ markets.
• Many of Michigan’s natural wonders are just a short drive away, whether it’s a walk, swim or ski trip at a state, county or local park in Southeast Michigan, antiquing in a nearby small town, or a day trip to one of Michigan’s Great Lakes.
• Check the Resident Life section of our website for more options on how to spend your leisure time.

On this page, you will find answers to many of the most commonly asked questions about this post-doctoral fellowship program.

How to obtain a Michigan license to practice psychology

All postdoctoral fellows must possess a Michigan license to begin the fellowship. This should be a Doctoral Educational Limited License but can be a Master’s Educational Limited License (TLLP) if needed due to delays in degree conferment.

After the PhD/PsyD degree is officially granted by a university, fellows must obtain a Doctoral Educational Limited License. This license enables to sit for the EPPP licensing exam and to begin to accumulate clinical hours for full licensure.

The Program Directors will assist new fellows in determining which license to obtain.

The application process can take several weeks. (See licensing and application forms for more information.) We strongly encourage incoming fellows to begin the application process as soon as they are accepted into the fellowship program.

The application packet may be obtained from the Michigan Board of Psychology, which is the state office that grants limited and full licenses for psychologists.

Michigan Board of Psychology contact information:
Department of Licensing and Regulation
Michigan Board of Psychology
PO Box 30018
Lansing MI 48909
(517) 335-0918
Website

Postdoctoral Program Admissions

Financial and Other Benefit Support for Upcoming Training Year

Initial Post-Residency Positions

(An aggregate tally for the preceding 3 cohorts)

Note: “PD” = Post-doctoral residency position; “EP” = Employed Position; n/a = not applicable. Each individual represented in this table is counted only one time. For former trainees working in more than one setting, the setting that represents their primary position is listed.

• Program Director, Hurley Rehabilitation Psychology Fellowship
• Director, Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich.
• Chair, Department of Psychology, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich.
• Clinical neuropsychologist and rehabilitation psychologist
• Assistant Professor, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Mich.
• Faculty, Hurley Pediatric Clinical Health Psychology Fellowship, Flint, Mich.

Kirk Stucky PsyD ABPP is board-certified in clinical neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology, which gives Hurley the distinction as the only hospital in northwest Michigan to have a psychologist with these qualifications. He is the program director for the Postdoctoral Clinical Health/Rehabilitation Psychology Fellowship Program at Hurley, chairs the Department of Psychology, and is director of Hurley’s Advanced Neuropsychology & Pediatric Psychology Services. Since 1994, he has been a faculty member for the MSU College of Human Medicine and provides medical education services for various residency programs at Hurley.

Education

• Bachelor-of-science degree in psychology, with honors: Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
• Master-of-science degree in clinical psychology: Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Fla.
• Predoctoral internship in medical psychology: Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Md.
• Doctoral degree in clinical psychology: Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Fla.
• Post-doctoral fellowship in medical psychology: Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich.

Current positions at Hurley

• Director, Advanced Neuropsychology and Pediatric Psychology Services
• Acting chair, Department of Psychology
• Acting chair, Ethics Committee

Certifications

• American Board of Professional Psychology
• Diplomate, Clinical Neuropsychology
• Diplomate, Rehabilitation Psychology

Academic Interests

Dr. Stucky is known nationally for his scholarly publications, research, and leadership on various national committees. He was first editor for the Neuropsychology Study Guide and Board Review, has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has presented at various state and national conferences.

Hurley IM residents’ meta-analysis findings gain international audience

A Hurley Internal Medicine resident research team presented findings from a meta-analysis of published studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago on June 3, 2019. Their analysis suggested that 3 years of Vitamin D supplements in those who eventually develop cancer may significantly reduce their risk of death from cancer, compared to those who took a placebo.

Their presentation was among several that gained international attention, as The Telegraph (United Kingdom newspaper) and others widely reported the researchers’ findings and interviewed some of the authors.

“This is the first time I have had such an experience,” said coauthor Tarek Haykal MD, a second-year resident in Hurley’s Internal Medicine Residency Training Program, who fielded many media phone calls and email inquiries. Both Haykal and first author Varun Samji MD - also a second-year resident - were at the ASCO conference for separate presentations at the time of the media inquiries.

“We are very happy that our research is catching international recognition,” said Haykal.

Samji also took a few media calls and said he was especially glad that research in general at Hurley was recognized because his residency training program - Internal Medicine - is prolific in research, thanks to a robust research curriculum and research mentorship.

The 10-person research team on this Hurley study used PRISMA-P* methodology to review randomized controlled trials where Vitamin D supplementation for at least 3 years was compared to placebo for the prevention of any type of disease and where cancer mortality was reported. After an exhaustive search of published studies in Medline and other databases, they ended up with 10 studies that fit their criteria, with 79,055 total patients (mean age: 68 years; 78% female) and a minimum follow-up period of 4 years.

Their findings: Vitamin D supplementation was associated with a significant reduction of cancer-related death compared to placebo in patients who later developed cancer. Vitamin D supplementation was NOT associated with a significant reduction in getting cancer.

These findings - combined with other well-known health benefits of Vitamin D supplements - suggest that all people - not just those with cancer - would benefit from Vitamin D supplementation, greater sun exposure, and/or greater intake of food that is high in Vitamin D, said Haykal. However, for those in northern climates such as Michigan, food and sun - especially in winter - won’t provide enough Vitamin D for most people, so supplements may be necessary.

Haykal and Samji plan to continue to work on research projects during their third and final year of their residency because it’s rewarding in many ways, they said.

From the group research projects, Haykal said, “I learned that teamwork is always important to conduct any project and to see it through from start to finish. I am extremely blessed to have had a great group of residents, mentors, and staff who supported our work.”

Samji said that such a large project was easier to complete as a group compared to working alone because the many contributors made the overall workload more manageable.

First ASCO Poster

The complete list of authors - in authorship order - appears below, with their Hurley roles. All of the resident physicians are in Hurley’s Internal Medicine Residency Program.

1. Varun Samji MD, second-year resident
2. Tarek Haykal MD, second-year resident
3. Yazan Zayed MD, second-year resident
4. Inderdeep Gakhal MD, first-year resident
5. Vijaysai Veerapaneni MD, first-year resident
6. Michele Obeid MD, first-year resident
7. Babikir Kheiri MD, third-year resident
8. Sunil Badami MD, third-year resident
9. Ghassan Bachuwa MD MHSS MS, director of Hurley’s Internal Medicine Residency Training Program
10. Rizwan Danish MD, an oncologist at the Genesys Hurley Cancer Institute and subjection chair for Hematology/Oncology at Hurley Medical Center

The abstract for the ASCO presentation may be found in the May 20, 2019, issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The group also shared their findings with a poster presentation at the May 10, 2019, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Flint Area Medical Education Community Research Forum in Flint, Mich.

Second ASCO Poster

Haykal, Samji and coauthors also presented a second ASCO poster about another meta-analysis, this time of controlled trials related to aspirin and cancer. It found that aspirin has no role as a primary prevention for cancer, but it increases the risk of bleeding. That ASCO abstract may be found in the May 20, 2019, issue of the Joural of Clinical Oncology.

Contributors to the second ASCO poster - in authorship order - appear below, with their Hurley roles. Unless otherwise noted, all resident physicians are in Hurley’s Internal Medicine Residency Program.

1. Tarek Haykal MD, second-year resident
2. Mahmoud Barbarawi MD, second-year resident
3. Yazan Zayed MD, second-year resident
4. Babikir Kheiri MD, third-year resident
5. Anitha Yelangi MD, second-year resident
6. Harsukh Dhillon MD, first-year resident
7. Sowmya Goranta MD, first-year resident
8. Adam Chahine MD, first-year Transitional Year resident
9. Varun Samji MD, second-year resident
10. Ghassan Bachuwa MD MHSS MS, director of Hurley’s Internal Medicine Residency Training Program
11. Khalil Katato MD, an oncologist at the Genesys-Hurley Cancer Institute

*Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols Statement 2015.

Young physicians in the Flint area who are interested in pediatrics-focused public health now may have a bit of help in getting their projects off the ground, thanks to a donated award honorarium.

In 2019, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha received the Roger Joseph Prize from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion for her activism and leadership. Roger Joseph was a Harvard-trained lawyer who contracted polio and subsequently died of polio complications. However, despite his illness, he remained committed to his community and to the ideals of humanism and justice. The Prize came with a $10,000 honorarium, which Dr. Mona is donating to establish this grant opportunity.

Hanna-Attisha is a faculty member in the Hurley Pediatrics Residency Training Program and became nationally known when she presented research findings that showed elevated blood levels of lead of children who lived in areas where water in Flint, Mich., also had elevated lead levels.

Focus of grant

The Michigan State University (MSU) and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative (PPHI) seeks proposals that focus on advocacy, research, or quality improvement work in public health pediatrics in Flint, Mich. Priority areas of funding include:

• Immunizations (in honor of Roger Joseph)
• Social determinants of health
• Environmental justice
• Disparities reduction
• Public health communications

Amount of grant

The maximum funding request is $2,000 per grant. A maximum of $2,000 in grants will be awarded each academic year.

Use of grant funds

Grant funds can be requested for materials, services, training, or other approved expenses needed to conduct work.

Grant funds cannot be used for:

• Physician or resident salaries, fees, stipends or honoraria;
• Indirect costs or administrative overhead fees;
• Capital equipment (including computer hardware/software);
• Professional development; and/or
• Conference registration fees or travel expenses.

Grant processing

All expenditures, including payments for goods and services, will be processed through the PPHInitiative at MSU and must follow MSU’s business procedures. Awarded grant funds cannot be given to another organization or fiscal sponsor and are solely for the purposes reflected in the approved work plan and budget.

Who can apply?

Resident physicians and junior physician faculty conducting work in Flint, Mich. Junior physician faculty are defined as those who have completed their training within 5 years.

Application and selection process

All proposals must be submitted through this application link.

Grant application assistance and templates for the proposal, including the work plan and budget, can be obtained from Jenny LaChance by e-mail or phone (810-262-6776).

PPHI leadership plans to review grant applications quarterly (around February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1) and will award grants on a rolling grant cycle. Notification of awards will occur within two weeks of grant review and decision.

Project periods will be 1 year in duration. A final report that includes a summary of activities, outcomes, and expenses must be submitted to PPHI leadership within 30 days of project completion. A final report template will be provided.

Program:

Pediatrics, Graduating Class of 2021

Originally from:

My parents from India, but I grew up in the Caribbean.

Education:

Medical school: American University of the Caribbean, on St. Maarten

Why did you come to the U.S. – and to Michigan?

I moved here for residency – Hurley was one of my best choices. I stayed in US 2 years prior to this for clinical rotations in medical school.

Why did you choose your specialty?

I love children and cannot see myself doing anything else but helping and being the voice for children in need.

Family

My family all live in St. Maarten, and my brother lives in San Francisco.

When you’re not working, what do you do for fun?

Watch TV, take naps, go to the gym.

What do you love about Hurley?

Hurley is a great and diverse program, with amazing staff who all have your best interests at heart.

What inspires you?

Seeing other successful women in medicine.

What was your toughest challenge?

Moving from a small island where I was the big fish in a small sea to a large place where that is no longer the case. I overcame this by realizing you can’t be great at everything, so you have to focus on your strengths and be a part of a team to make things work.

What do you miss most about home?

The beaches, my family, especially my fiancé. I keep in touch through WhatsApp and phone calls.

What’s your favorite beach?

One of the beaches back home - I have seen none better.

To 5 Favorite things about Flint region

1. Community spirit and Resources in the community for every need.
2. Nearby shopping malls, so many great ones. :)
3. The cute little coffee shops and restaurants that have a very unique flare.
4. No traffic, ever.
5. My apartment. It’s adorable and very homey.

What surprised you the most about working at Hurley?

Everyone is super nice and accommodating! There is a great work-life balance here.

What are your favorite ways to keep your work-life balance manageable?

I work out and keep in touch with my fiancé daily. Long distance can be tough, but he is great!

Program:

Pediatrics, Graduating Class of 2020

Originally from:

Amman Jordan

Education:

Medical school: University of Jordan Faculty of Medicine, Amman, Jordan

Why did you come to the U.S. – and to Michigan?

I came to the U.S. in June 2017 for residency. :)

Why did you choose your specialty?

It’s fun!

Family

My family is back home in Jordan.

Program:

Pediatrics, Graduating Class of 2020

Originally from:

Iraq

Education:

Medical school: Gulf Medical University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Why did you come to the U.S. – and to Michigan?

I came to the States 2 weeks prior to my July 1st residency-start day. Residency in U.S is a dream for every medical student! Why Michigan? I knew I’ll have a family at Hurley, not only colleagues. Also, I loved the trees in the fall and the lakes in every city!

Why did you choose your specialty?

I’ve always dreamed about taking care of kids. I love seeing them healthy and playful. Plus I always get a hug!

Family

My family is a gift from God. They are my all-the-time supporters. I have sisters in Canada, a brother in Hungary, and my parents are in Dubai. Separated by thousands of miles but we are even closer than being in one house. I’m married to the love of my life and my best friend Ahmed. We love to discover new areas together. We visited the most popular areas in Michigan and the States from NYC to CA, and there is more and more to discover!

When you’re not working, what do you do for fun?

I love doing different things from drinking tea with my husband and chitchat with him to a road trip to a new place or cycling in Mackinac Island. Also, I make sure to have a nice dinner with my small family of interns at least once a month.

What inspires you?

My Mom (her words, prayers …) and my husband. Also, just being around kids and seeing them smiling again inspire me to work harder.

What was your toughest challenge in achieving your goals - and how did you overcome it?

I faced many challenges until I got here. My first and biggest was the Visa. Other challenges are traveling alone for the first time to a big country for electives/ interviews and being away from my family. The key for all the challenges was patience with determination. On the other hand, I gained many experiences and made many friends. In brief, it’s worth it!

What do you miss most about home - and how do you keep in touch with family and friends there?

I miss my parents the most. I also miss my friends and my car! I always talk to my family and friends on WhatsApp and Skype.

What are your future plans?

Away from work, my first plan is buying a lake house in the up north of Michigan!

Program:

Pediatrics, Graduating Class of 2020

Originally from:

Jordan

Education:

Medical school: University of Jordan School of Medicine, Amman, Jordan I also did two years of general practice, and two years of family medicine residency training at Jordan University hospital.

Why did you come to the U.S. – and to Michigan?

I came to the U.S. for my training.

Why did you choose your specialty?

I had a wonderful mom growing up. She was a strong and loving woman and very fond of kids. She recently retired after being an English teacher in midtown Amman for 18 years. I always loved kids as well and really enjoyed my Pediatric rotations during medical school and previous residency. I knew I wanted to be a Pediatrician and that I wanted to come to the U.S. during my last year of medical school. It was a long and tough road, but I finally made it!

Family

I have one wonderful mom and two amazing, supportive brothers. I live thousands of miles away from them, but technology has been a bliss!

When you’re not working, what do you do for fun?

In the summer, I go for a run in the park. In the winter, I go with my friend Korie for ice skating or go to Dearborn for some Arab food. I also like to go out with the other interns, which we do almost every month. We also have frequent social events in the department, and we are generally close. Our seniors are super smart, hard-working and very supportive. I’ve made real, new, awesome friends here.

What do you love about Michigan and Hurley?

People in Michigan are generally friendly and down to earth. I like the multicultural atmosphere here at Hurley. Our Pediatric program is very strong, and our Children’s Hospital is the only one in the area. We see many kids with complicated medical and social issues, and it is truly rewarding to participate in their care. We are also a Level One trauma center, and we see many surgical and trauma cases in the ED and PICU. We get a good blend of supervision and hands-on experiences.

What do you miss most about home?

I miss my best friends back home a lot. I try to get in touch with them at least weekly.

Favorite quote?

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.” ~Helen Keller

Favorite thing about the region

The outdoors are fascinating in the summer time.

Special talents?

Learning new sports: swimming, kickboxing and ice skating. Hoping to try something new this summer!

What are your favorite ways to keep your work-life balance manageable?

I do my prayers every day. I also run on the treadmill at the Hurley 6W gym area, which is free and very accessible!

Program:

Pediatrics, Graduating Class of 2021

Originally from:

I was born in Harbor City, Calif., but raised in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Education:

Medical school: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Sint Maarten.

Why did you come to the U.S. – and to Michigan?

I decided to come to Michigan and to Hurley Medical Center because of the wonderful work that physicians and educators are doing for the children and families in Flint, Mich. I immediately felt the love, passion, and dedication from the people in the Flint community, and I wanted to be a part of that legacy and serve in a positive way. Also, I’ve never seen snow, so I wanted a different environment from the tropical lifestyle I have become accustomed to all of my life.

Why did you choose your specialty?

I always say that I did not choose Pediatrics - it chose me first. I have grown up around a large family with many nieces and nephews who I love dearly. I have a passion for mentoring kids and supporting them to live out their dreams. Children are fighters, they are resilient, and they carry so much hope for the future. Pediatrics is a wonderful field that is always changing and growing. I wanted to be in a field where I continue to grow as a physician and have an opportunity to make a child’s life better.

When you’re not working, what do you do for fun?

When I am not working I am most likely at the movies or at a music concert. I love all things super-hero movies and Marvel movies. Also, I’m a former jazz trombone player, so music is very important to me, and I love attending R&B/Jazz concerts.

What do you love about Hurley?

I love that Hurley is a major academic institution with passionate physicians and educators. Everyone is so friendly, and they are excited to teach the new residents and make us feel at home. Another thing I love about Michigan is that I have many friends here who love the area, and I am excited to explore this great state with them.

What inspires you?

My mom is my greatest inspiration. For most of my life she worked as a single parent while in the medical field, and she always encouraged me to work hard and go after my dreams. I’ve seen her persevere in school to become a nurse, and I learned how to never give up from seeing her accomplish her dreams. I know that I can do anything I set my mind to because she showed me how.

What are your favorite ways to keep your work-life balance manageable?

My faith helps to keep me balanced. I pray a lot, I attend church, and I like to do community service. Also, I love talking to my parents daily. They help to keep me focused and they let me vent to them. They are my best friends!