Dr. Fawwad Khan entered medical school already focused on psychiatry, so it was important for him to not only explore this specialty but also find a way to make an impact and help fellow students. He did just that, volunteering as a peer advocate to promote student mental health and working with faculty on an update to the Psychiatry Clerkship curriculum.

Fawwad Khan, M.D.

What this award means: I feel privileged and honored to be recognized for my efforts in pursuing my interest in psychiatry and trying my best to utilize it in a meaningful way.

Mentor comment: Fawwad has been recognized by his peers as a role model for compassionate care. He has been involved in multiple volunteering activities and has shown great leadership in helping the Psychiatry Clerkship faculty revitalize a reflection activity for the students. We look forward to seeing all that he accomplishes in his career. – Sarah E. Baker, M.D., M.A., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Background and family: My identity as a Pakistani American Muslim is central to who I am today, and I recognize the privilege and opportunity that blossomed from the struggles of immigration endured by my parents. My achievements are part of a story and context much larger than my own. The support I have received from my friends and family has been a consistent foundation for me to rely on throughout the ups and downs that come with medical school.

What led to your career path: Behavioral and mental health were always areas of interest for me. I found the stigma around mental illness, as well as the profound impact it can have on the lives of those affected and their loved ones, as important areas of need. Working in a neuropsychiatric lab in college confirmed my interest in medicine, and specifically psychiatry, as an ideal career path for me.

College: I attended UC Berkeley, majoring in molecular and cell biology with a minor in peace and conflict studies. Two of my most meaningful involvements were volunteering as a basketball coach for children in underresourced Oakland and Berkeley school districts and serving as a student mentor for students in local elementary schools.

UTSW activities: I had the opportunity to explore my interest through my work with Carol Tamminga, M.D., Chair of Psychiatry, on a project studying the effects of psychotropic medication use on brain-based biomarkers. Additionally, I was elected as a student officer in the Psychiatry Student Interest Group, joined the Peer Advocate program, and served on the Ethics Curriculum Committee of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. As part of my work on this committee, I helped create a case discussion on decision-making capacity and patient autonomy for MS3 students rotating in Psychiatry.

Surprising fact: I have a huge interest in cooking, baking, and food in general. Lately my project has been trying to perfect how to make various South Asian teas, including masala and Kashmiri chai.

Ultimate career goal: When I think about my future career, my ultimate goal is a simple one: to try to understand the story of the patients I will meet, see them as the people they hope to be rather than the illnesses they suffer from, and to do my part in helping them restore functionality in their life.

Future plans: I look forward to entering the next stage of my career at the University of Illinois at Chicago to begin my psychiatry residency training. I’m excited to be moving closer to my fiancée and to be given the opportunity to train at an institution with a dedicated focus on addressing the mental health needs of the city’s underserved communities. There are many interesting and evolving areas within the field that I hope to further explore during residency, including consultation-liaison psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and community psychiatry.

About the award: The award honors a student for excellent work in psychiatry and mental health.