Ekrem Cetinkaya

Ekrem as a medical student

Pronouns: He/Him

Ekrem as a child

• What kind of identities do you inhabit?

  I am a first-generation Turkish-American Muslim

• The path to medicine is not easy. Can you tell us why you decided to pursue it?

  My father once told me that teachers and doctors are two jobs that directly serve humanity. In both, you assume the role of a guide and a mentor, helping people reach their full potential in health and understanding the world around them. My goal as a physician is to combine both jobs and become a mentor, a teacher, and someone who gives comfort and guidance to my patients by advocating for their needs. My father’s advice has motivated me to continue this path and has inspired me during my lowest points.

• Can you describe a challenging moment in medicine that made you rethink your career path?

  The most challenging point of my medical career that made me question why I was in medicine was my Step 1 and Level 1 dedicated periods. My dedicated period also overlapped with the entire month of Ramadan, and I would be taking my exam on the 2nd day of Eid (the end of Ramadan). I was studying for 12+ hours a day, unable to eat or drink anything. I lost over 20 pounds in a month, and it took every bit of me to keep me going. What kept me on this path was that if I made it through, I would have the opportunity to serve those in need and return to my community as a physician.

• How do you see a career in PM&R as advancing equity? Or alternatively - why are you interested in this organization? Why equity and PM&R?

  As a first-generation student with no one to look up to when applying and during medical school to guide my career choice, I have made it a mission to help increase diversity and equity in PM&R. I only learned about PM&R through another first-gen resident who sat me down while I was on my internal medicine rotation and explained why I should do PM&R. It was an option I was never exposed to during the two years of medical school. As such, increasing representation in this field is critical. Especially as many students will need to travel to other institutions to learn about PM&R, I hope to help create opportunities for students to travel and experience the world of PM&R without putting them in further debt. As part of this organization, I aim to reach out to medical students who, like me, need enlightenment on why they, too, should pursue PM&R.

• Can you tell us a little bit of your aspirations - either for your career or for the field of medicine (if you’re a medical student?)

  As a physiatrist, I want to work to bring joy to the lives of my patients. Right now, I am considering a career in pediatric rehabilitation, and I hope to make it so I can put a smile on my patients' faces every day. Aside from that, I hope to be actively involved in public policy and advocate for increased awareness of adaptive sports, disability resources, and opportunities that will allow our patients to lead better lives.

• Find me on social media

  Twitter: @EkremHamid

  Instagram: @EkremHamid

  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/EkremCetinkaya

Last updated 8/2023