Inside STAT: International med students ease the path for others with new mentor group

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENT AZAN VIRJI MENTORS POTENTIAL MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS VIA VIDEO CHAT AT A PARK NEAR HIS HOME IN BROOKLINE, MASS. (KAYANA SZYMCZAK FOR STAT)

International students who come to the U.S. for medical school face multiple barriers to admission. Beyond strict visa requirements, these students often face a paucity of statistics to help them gauge their chances of admission. Even after being admitted to school, these students have limited financial aid and have to navigate a complex web of loans and other options. Now, a new group made up of international students who are in medical and dental school want to make it easier for other students in the process of applying to school. The group, called F-1 Doctors and which primarily functions as a mentorship network, has already helped students feel less alone. “A lot of the mentees are so happy to speak to someone who is an international student at a medical school — they see themselves represented,” says Azan Virji, one of the co-founders of F-1 Doctors. I have the full story here.