Mina Al-Ani

Lina: I heard that you finished the USMLEs in less than a year. How were you able to do that? Do you have any tips or any strategies that you used for that?

Mina: The residency application season starts in September. I knew I wanted to be in the September 2020 application cycle, so I started studying in March 2019. Many students take their time with the application, but I knew I did not want to postpone applying another year. I asked mentors who went through the process and they were great support. It definitely took dedication and motivation and finding the best resources. I studied for 8-9 months and scored high on Step 1, the first exam which is usually the toughest one. Then, I spent one month preparing for the clinical exam, where I was tested on how I interacted and dealt with live patient interactions. Lastly, I scored high on Step 2, the clinical knowledge exam after preparing for three months. Currently, they canceled the clinical skills exams because of COVID. Of course, you cannot deal with patients directly. They’re doing an English test instead of that right now. It does take less time, so I believe this is a good opportunity for studying right now.

Lina: Did you have any extracurricular activities you did outside of school In Egypt or in the US while studying for your exams?

Mina: I managed to excel in my school, while also participating in many activities I was passionate for. For example, I wanted to learn how to play the guitar, so I taught myself! I was able to play the guitar with a great singer which made it so much fun. I still use the guitar to relax and enjoy myself. In addition, I learned how to make videos and have a passion for directing and editing videos. When I was in medical school, I became fascinated with programming and actually won a couple of programming contests!  I have volunteered at several organizations and was a leader of some organizations. Most recently I have volunteered for COVID-19 in San Diego.

Lina: Tell me more about your programming competitions.

Mina: When I was in medical school. I really wanted to build healthcare applications. I was really fascinated by an application called “Be My Eyes” which helps those with vision difficulties. I participated in a contest called “One Million Arab Coders” that was held by the vice president of Dubai. I had to learn programming and compete with 150,000 participants, most of who were already programmers and already had experience in programming.  I was chosen as one of the 125 winners in the first phase and it was truly an honor because I was invited to Dubai by the vice president and recognized in the news because I was one of the only contestants with no experience in programming and in the medical field. I learned programming on the spot to participate in the contest. This experience prepared me to participate with another team in Dubai to create a healthcare application using artificial intelligence and win a second contest.

Lina: Since you have done so much, how do you balance your time between school and volunteering and all of these extracurricular activities?

Mina: I feel like doing different activities gives me time. It adds to my day rather than takes from it. Studying medicine or learning programming takes the first part of my day and then usually at the end of my day at night I relax and learn something new with my guitar. Because I have so many things happening in my life, I got a white board that I hang in my room to keep me organized. I’ve learned that it’s definitely important to have time for myself, so I don’t overdo things. I usually watch movies and socialize on weekends too.

Lina: How did you apply for residency and What are the qualifications that make an applicant competitive?

Mina: It is the same process for Americans and IMGs but it’s more competitive if you graduated from abroad or studied abroad for obvious reasons. Most importantly, in order to be competitive, you must have great scores on your USMLE exams (United States Medical Licensing Examination) especially Step 1. Next year, Step 1 will be just pass/fail. But for now, it’s the most important step. The score is the most important thing that would just help you actually have your application considered. Letters of recommendations and publications are very important too. In addition, it is important to be unique. Talents and creativity other than your studies in medical school are highly considered.  Preparing for the interviews is the last step because it means the residency programs are considering you for their program.

Lina: And speaking of that, you applied for radiology. What made you apply for radiology, even though it’s known to be a very competitive specialty?

Mina: Yes, I was advised not to because they say you won’t get a spot if you’re an IMG. It’s very competitive in the United States. Don’t listen to that. I got good interviews in the hospitals. To answer your question, I really loved it, the coordinated care between multiple specialties, the diagnostic role, the puzzles and the responsibility of radiology. My professors told me I have a great eye for radiology. When I got into programming, I realized the role of technology in radiology and how you can combine both of these fields to help advance healthcare. So currently there is a lot of artificial intelligence research and Software going into radiology. I love programming, I love artificial intelligence, and I love medicine. I do believe radiology combines all of them.

Lina: Last question, is there anything that you wish you did differently? any advice that you like to give to the next generations.

Mina: I have some advice. First, don’t let anyone tell you NO, you cannot do it, it’s hard stuff, you have lower chances than others. Don’t ever listen to that. Just trust yourself. Know what you want. It is very important to know what you actually want. I’ve seen some people say; I want to be a doctor. Why do you want to be a doctor? Which hospital do you want to go to? Which specialty do you want to be in? They say: “I don’t know. I just want to be a doctor in the United States.” Knowing yourself and what you really want and where you see yourself in the future is crucial in your career and makes you efficient. In 2019, I knew that in March 2021 I’ll know the results of my radiology residency application. It seemed so far away then, but here I am today waiting for that result. Second, set your priorities, I was advised to focus on my USMLE exams first, if you want to be a radiologist, the USMLE score matters a lot. Alhamdullilah, thank God, I got a very high score because of that advice. Also, be organized, have a good plan and do not stress out and enjoy the journey. If something works out differently than what you planned, be certain that it is for the best. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I’m sure there are a lot of people who would be happy to help you since they have been through the same journey and would save you a lot of time giving you the information they have.