The Future Pediatrics of America at Oakland University (OUFPOA) virtually hosted its 2nd general body meeting on March 27, featuring board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Sawsan Jamil.
Jamil owns a private practice with her colleague, delivering babies and monitoring pregnant women. She explains her progress in medical school and her current profession and provides a glimpse of her life.
The event was hosted to provide resources for prospective students in the field.
“Obstetrics and gynecology are related to the mission of this club because the attending’s primary objective is to deliver the child safely and effectively that does not cause harm to the mother,” OUFPOA President Lourd Lazar said.
The meetings address numerous fields that can be presented to interested students by providing relevant information that aids their career development.
“The guest speakers we’ve brought, like Dr. Jamil, provide insight into what they do at their practice or hospital,” Lazar said. “They also provide our members with valuable life lessons they’ve experienced and how they apply them in medicine.”
Jamil explained the importance of exploring new interests or skills while entering medical school or residency when considering a prospective field.
“You never know what you might like, and it’s good to keep an open mind because everything happens for a reason,” Jamil said.
OUFPOA strives for influential guest speakers who are passionate about their profession, and encourage the students to further their education. This is the second time OUFPOA has featured a physician.
“The speakers are essential because they help guide us to do great things in our future,” Lazar said. “We want to bring speakers that our members can feel they gained something from and not just a box checked off.”
Jamil emphasized the importance of experiencing life challenges by explaining her experience as an immigrant and receiving her certification four times.
“As an Iraqi immigrant, I’ve had to restart my education multiple times in different countries and pass my exams each time,” Jamil said. “I knew what I wanted and had the satisfaction of completing it all times.”
The dedication shown further enhanced the students’ desire for the field.
“It is important to work hard and persevere even through the difficulties that life throws you,” Jamil said.
Jamil explained the focus on making a difference within the community and building relations with patients.
“I have had patients from other countries come up to me now and say they remember me during their pregnancy,” Jamil said.
OUFPOA directs the club to include professional and personal experiences that enhance the purpose and frequently receive positive remarks afterward.
“The mission of this club is to make an impact in the community and bring people together to help the most vulnerable individuals — children,” Lazar said. “The amount of feedback we receive from our members is rewarding.”
OUFPOA will continue to expand the opportunities for its members, providing informative insight to prospective students interested in fields regarding pediatrics with a desire to give back to children.
“For future events, our members can expect to hear from more incredible guest speakers,” Lazar said.
For more information on OUFPOA and upcoming events, visit their Grizzorgs website, or contact Lazar at [email protected].
