APMA News - July/August 2019 - 60

Development Update

Highlighting Today's Most Outstanding Student
Scholars: 10 Minutes with Ali Ahmed
Each year, the APMA Educational Foundation
awards scholarships to exceptional thirdand fourth-year podiatric medical school students. In this issue, we sat down with the
American Podiatric Medical Association and
APMA Membership scholarship recipient
Ali Ahmed of Dr. William M. Scholl College of
Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Class of 2020.
Ahmed received his bachelor's degree in Life
Science and Business from Xavier University
in Cincinnati.

paid overtime. But life doesn't stop. The
best part is the idea of working toward becoming an expert in something so relatively small but so foundational. The friends
I've made throughout school have become
an instrumental part of my life, and I don't
see that changing in the future.
APMA News:
What qualities would you say make a
great physician?
Ahmed:
The podiatrist I shadowed during my
summers in college, who increasingly became a mentor, explained that a great physician has three unshakable characteristics.
A great physician must be available, affable, and of course, able.

APMA News:
Congratulations on your scholarship.
Ali Ahmed
What made you decide to pursue podiatric
medicine?
APMA News:
Ahmed:
How do you stay motivated as a student?
I wanted to go into the medical field but didn't know
Ahmed:
exactly what I wanted to do. I shadowed, volunteered, and
It's important to make time to be around people who have
worked for various specialists during my summers in college
absolutely
nothing to do with podiatry from time to time. I
and found podiatrists to be the most enthusiastic about their
found volunteering to be a good outlet for me in tough times
profession. I love the versatility of the profession and what it
during school. It helps keep everything in balance and reminds
has to offer. I like the idea of being able to provide some sort
me of the role I'll one day play in the world.
of immediate relief to patients, even if it's debriding a nail or
paring a callus.
APMA News:
What are some challenges you've overcome or accomplishments
you've achieved?
Ahmed:
I think the fact that we're all where we are right now speaks
volumes about our own personal challenges and accomplishments. We've all had obstacles and circumstances that made
us want to quit, and somehow we fi nd the energy and support to overcome them. These are the most notable, yet most
often overlooked accomplishments.
APMA News:
What's the hardest part about being a student, and what's the
best?
Ahmed:
The hardest part is trying to attend to life while studying.
Podiatry school is essentially a full-time job with required un60 APMA News July/August 2019

APMA News:
What are some of your other hobbies or outside interests?
Ahmed:
Collecting books, bingeing Netflix, spending time with my
friends and wife and family, finding music, and analyzing the
human condition. Oh-and coffee!
APMA News:
What do you look forward to as a podiatric physician?
Ahmed:
I am looking forward to developing professional relationships with my patients and allowing them to get back to doing
things they want to do but can't because of lower extremity
problems. I'm also looking forward to expanding my professional network and keeping tabs on my friends from school.
Most importantly, I'm looking forward to teaching podiatry
through any capacity and setting, whether that be to students,
residents, or patients.
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APMA News - July/August 2019

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