Name

Rehmat Babar

Hometown

Kennesaw, Georgia

Year in Med School

M2

Where did you complete your undergraduate education?

Georgia State University

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I was born in Miami, Florida but grew up in Kennesaw. I moved to Athens a year ago without having ever visited! I’m the second oldest of five siblings. I graduated from Georgia State University in 2020, where I majored in biology and started med school that August. I enjoy baking and cooking, I’m currently watching Manifest on Netflix, and am undefeated in ping pong and pool.

Why did you choose MCG and the Medical Partnership campus?

I chose MCG because of the emphasis on inclusivity and representation in the medical field and cultural competency in practice. I first attended the Igniting the Dream of Medicine Conference at MCG as a sophomore in college and absolutely loved the experience: the faculty, students, and panelists were inspiring and welcoming. I actually chose the Medical Partnership campus on a whim; I didn’t even know it existed until I interviewed and looked into it on my own. The small class size, focus on small group learning, high faculty-to-student ratio, and proximity to home were some reasons I ended up picking this campus. Coming from a large university as a commuter, I wanted a different experience in medical school and to take on a more active role as a student. I also have younger siblings and wanted to be a part of their lives and visit often, so only being an hour and a half away is truly a blessing. Looking back, coming to the Athens campus was the best decision I ever made, the sense of community, the immense support from the faculty, staff and students, and the collaborative environment here is unmatched.

What is your advice for someone who is interested in medical school?

Focus on yourself and your path. People tend to ask every other pre-med/medical student about what extracurriculars they have, how they studied for the MCAT, what classes they took, what research they’re doing, etc. Everyone will give you a different answer. Don’t stress yourself out, it’s impossible to “do it all.” Instead, find what works for you and stick to it, as cliché as it sounds, following your passion and staying true to your values is incredibly important and will serve you well. It’s better to add meaning to what you do, not how much you do. Quality over quantity, trust the process, you’ll be okay.

What is a typical day for you?

A typical weekday: I get up and go to class in the morning, take a lunch break with some friends, go back to my apartment and study for a few hours. Then many many videos later, I’ll workout, make dinner and usually call my family or a friend or watch some tv and wind down for the day.

What motivated you to want to be a physician?

Honestly, many things. A significant contributor was wanting to make health care more accessible, accessibility in all meanings of the word and to serve underserved populations. I want to challenge healthcare policies and regulations that impede the process of accessibility which ultimately lead to worse health outcomes. I want to empower my future patients with knowledge, support, and resources to allow them to take charge of their health and wellbeing. I love teaching and I think a huge part of being a physician is also being a good teacher and advocate, informing your patients on what their diagnosis means, explaining potential treatment options and how they work and what they entail, and going through all the information in a clear and understandable way. This allows your patients to make informed decisions and further fosters a trusting patient-physician relationship. There is nothing more rewarding and fulfilling than making it your life’s work to be there for your patients in their most vulnerable moments and making every effort to provide them with the best care.

Favorite place to eat in Athens:

Mediterranean Grill or Thai Spoon

If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?

Stephen Hawking or John Mulaney