My name is Liam Murad, and I am a second-year medical student at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. From a young age, I have always been a curious person driven by the pursuit of knowledge and discovery, particularly in the physical and biological sciences. As one can imagine, it was therefore difficult to choose a single degree to pursue when it was time for me to begin university. Despite my indecision, there was one thing that I knew for certain: I knew that I wanted to pursue a career that enabled me to contribute to my community and to help improve the lives of others, as well as contribute to the growth of the body of knowledge in my chosen field. After some consideration, I decided that there was no better field to make my own mark in the world than the field of medicine. I was, therefore, honored and fortunate to be admitted directly into McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Being admitted into medicine without a bachelor’s degree is no small task and is an opportunity unique to students in Quebec.

Although being in a medical program at such a young age was a great honor, I soon found myself surrounded by peers who were not only older, but also more experienced than me, with a greater breadth and depth of knowledge. Being in an environment where many of my fellow classmates had bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and some even PhD’s, was humbling and motivating. This realization compelled me to work extremely hard to make up for my lack of experience and have access to the competitive and highly sought-after opportunities that were offered.

Early in my medical training, I had the opportunity to meet with 2 of my current mentors in the field of urology, Dr Naeem Bhojani and David-Dan Nguyen, whose valuable support has helped me to grow both on a personal and professional level. Under their supervision, I took on my first research project which I started on my own: “Validation of the Patient Activation Measure in Kidney Stone Disease Patients.” The Patient Activation Measure is a questionnaire that measures patient activation, a score which assesses an individual’s knowledge and skill regarding self-management of one’s health. This metric has many potential applications such as designing and tailoring treatments to a patient’s abilities and needs, evaluating and comparing interventions, reducing health care costs, and providing a better experience to patients. I continue to pursue this research project because it is a compelling and interesting area to explore, especially because of its focus on patient quality of life, which can sometimes be overlooked in medicine.

As part of my continuous effort to gain professional research experience, I applied to become a 2023-2024 Summer Medical Student Fellow. This program aligns with my passion for urology, offers hands-on clinical experience, and allows me to connect with like-minded individuals. As a fellow, I have the opportunity to learn from experts in the field of urology, contribute to patient care, and continue to collaborate with fellow students who share the same passion for urology that I do. I hope to present my study’s results at various conferences, engage in discussions regarding its relevance and utility, and ultimately publish the article in peer-reviewed journals where other like-minded individuals who share my passion can take inspiration in this work.

I consider my having been selected for the 2023-2024 Summer Medical Student Fellowship as a pivotal moment in my budding medical career. I was overwhelmed not only by a sense of gratitude and accomplishment at having secured such a prestigious award from such a venerable institution, but also by the realization that I was chosen along with a group of peers, many of whom had garnered considerably more experience than myself. The grant marks a significant milestone in my transition from a medical student to a passionate and dedicated researcher.

I am grateful that this fellowship provides me with the resources, not only to bring this research project to completion, but also to expand my research portfolio and to network with those who have similar research interests. I am looking forward to engaging in new projects with new associates whom I will meet thanks to this wonderful honor. I am filled with a profound sense of excitement and gratitude as I start down this path to become an academic researcher, and I am eager to continue to collaborate with the urological community and learn more about research in doing so.