I reconcile contract work and medical studies, and you can too!
Like many others, I took time during the pandemic to reflect on my career. I have a doctorate. in biomedical engineering, but I’ve always had an interest in medicine, so I read a lot about medical issues. It inspired me to consider medical school so that I could potentially have a greater impact on the lives of others. I was not alone on my path to development: As of April 2022, graduate programs in public health had attracted nearly 24,500 applicants, a 40% increase from 2021, according to the Association of schools and public health programs. Medical schools saw an 18% increase in applicants in 2021 compared to applicants in 2020, and there are currently historic increases among underrepresented minorities.
Luckily for me, the CEO of UWorld, the company I work for, is a doctor who supports employees who want to practice or learn medicine. When I was accepted into Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, the company allowed me to go from being a full-time employee to being an entrepreneur so that I could continue my medical studies while having an income. Balancing work, life, and school has been a challenge, but I learned several valuable lessons about upskilling that can help students or mid-career professionals achieve their dreams.
3 keys for a successful increase in competence:
Now is the time to think big
First of all, it is important to continue to exceed your current capacities to reach new limits of personal growth. Don’t limit yourself! It’s certainly not too late to achieve your goals. Your story doesn’t have to be like anyone else’s. Your path doesn’t have to be the same as everyone else. Age is just a number.
Sometimes you are faced with situations that can challenge you mentally, emotionally and even spiritually. When you overcome these challenges, you realize why the challenges presented in the first place. I was unable to apply to medical school because to apply to the United States you need citizenship or permanent residency. I didn’t become a permanent resident until I was 25, and it took me up to 10 years after the day I moved to the United States to become a permanent resident. I had to find an employer who would sponsor me to help me get there. At no point in this process, however, did I see myself getting too old or letting myself be abandoned. Instead, I kept moving forward. It was well worth the effort to help develop these new skills and learn more about who I wanted to be. There are several keys to success that I found as I pushed and developed these vital new skills.
A motivating and energizing environment
Second, it’s important to surround yourself with the right people in your personal and professional life. Having people behind you who will push you to excel is essential to your eventual success. I am very blessed and lucky to have been able to meet a number of fantastic people who have helped me get to where I am today. You need to be in the right environment to excel because it will help you drive, especially when you lack motivation or are going through difficulties.
Management of time
When trying to balance work, school and life, during your retraining or upskilling process, it is important to have highly developed time management skills. I schedule everything from study time and training to mental health breaks, all with a 10-15 minute cushion in between.
It is important to have a well-balanced life. You won’t be able to maintain that motivation if you can’t appreciate the people and things you’re passionate about. When you work and go to school at the same time; however, you need to be very efficient. I always know exactly what I need to be able to do in 24 hours: when I go to sleep, when I get up and when I exercise. Plus, I need to know what I’m going to do at work, when I’m going to study, and of course, when those vital mental health breaks are coming. Obviously, planning my day in advance makes it much easier to complete my tasks.
Reconciling school and work
Be upfront with your employer about your goals, especially when you return to school. Ideally, you need an employer who matches your values, supports your ambition and inspires you. If you don’t have this, you may find it much more difficult to maintain this critical balance or even propel yourself towards positive career growth.
Working for UWorld has meant being surrounded by people who have supported me every step of the way. In addition, UWorld Medical’s platform offers a wide range of study materials, which helped me prepare for this new study program. I was blessed with study tools that supported my time management plans and helpful colleagues to support everything. I made the decision to put myself forward and then devote my abilities, talents and skills to directly impacting lives. After the isolation caused by COVID-19, I look forward to this component of the clinical environment: helping people individually.
—Qusay Alfaori, PhD, MS is an MD candidate at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso. He is also a content developer at UWorld, where he works in the health education department. Qusay has a deep passion for medicine and a desire to help future generations pursue careers in the healthcare industry. He can be contacted at qalfaori@uworld.com or LinkedIn.