Dr. Ali Tejani: Vanatta, Hesser, Schmalstieg Excellence in Tutoring Award
Dr. Ali Tejani can’t help but have a deep love for educating others, given his parents’ passion for teaching and mentoring, and the process enriches him as well. “The opportunity to teach my fellow medical students has been a blessing, and I have learned much from them.” Dr. Tejani, who matched at UT Southwestern for his radiology residency, is the 2020 recipient of the Vanatta, Hesser, Schmalstieg Excellence in Tutoring Award.
What this award means: “I see it as a privilege to help students maneuver through the curriculum, overcoming hurdles that I faced myself when I was in their position. There is no greater satisfaction than seeing students master difficult concepts and apply what they learn to caring for patients on the wards.”
Mentor comment: “Since the day he joined Student Academic Support Services in 2017, Ali has been a joy to work with and is the embodiment of every quality we seek in our tutors. He combines expert content knowledge, creativity, humility and a real dedication to the success of his students into every tutoring session.” – Carol Wortham, Manager, Student Academic Support Services
Background and family: “My mother and father both grew up in Pakistan, where my mother worked as a schoolteacher. My father left everything behind, including his family, to pursue higher education in the United States in a completely unfamiliar environment. During his studies, he took time to mentor and teach his fellow students. My mother continues to work as a teacher in Dallas. Together, they inspire me to continue this tradition of giving back through one’s time and knowledge.”
What led to your career path: “During medical school, I enjoyed almost every class that we took, and my Radiology sub-internship helped me realize that radiologists draw on each of these fields daily. Also, I have always been passionate about the intersection of technology and medicine, and radiology is the perfect fit for these interests.”
College: “I graduated summa cum laude as a Eugene McDermott Scholar and National Merit Scholar from UT Dallas with a major in biology and minor in political science. I was fortunate to participate in the Bill Archer Fellowship to learn more about policymaking in Washington, D.C. While in D.C., I worked at CBS News to pursue my initial goals of working in journalism.”
UTSW activities: “I was fortunate to work as a tutor for anatomy and various pre-clerkship organ system blocks. Through Alpha Omega Alpha, I was able to help MS2 students prepare for STEP 1. Through the Monday Clinic, I was able to serve as an Operations Manager to help with clinic flow and logistics, while providing free care to uninsured patients in Dallas.”
Surprising fact: “My wife and I met on the first day of medical school orientation at UTSW!”
Future plans: “I hope to pursue a career in radiology and imaging informatics. My goal is to work at an academic center where I can be involved with both undergraduate and graduate medical education. Hopefully, I also will be able to dedicate time to helping with global health efforts in increasing access to imaging and imaging reports. I am not sure where I will be for residency, but teaching will continue to be a significant responsibility of my new role.”
About the award: The award includes a certificate and $500, and honors graduating seniors who have made a significant contribution to tutoring fellow students.