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.
![Dr. Ali Tejani Dr. Ali Tejani smiling](/ctplus/stories/2020/assets/sa20-tejani.jpg)
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.