Youmna Jalkh
Class of 2027
Hi! My name is Youmna and I’m a proud member of the GWSMHS Class of 2027! I was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, and lived there until I started undergrad at Boston University where I studied Psychology. I then worked as a clinical research assistant in the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston for four years before making my way to DC to start medical school.
I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a doctor. My dad is an ophthalmologist in Beirut, and I grew up in a medical household. He introduced me to medicine, and used to take me to the hospital with him, where I would watch him help his patients and treat them with kindness and compassion: those interactions inspired me greatly, and his practice of medicine is the way I want to practice medicine in the future.
I was very anxious to start medical school in a new city, but the amazing things GW offered more than made up for it. DC is an awesome place to live. It’s a beautiful city with so much history, phenomenal restaurants and more museums than you can count (and they’re all free!)! There is always something to do, no matter what you like to do in your free time. Medical school gave me the best group of classmates and friends to make amazing memories in DC - yes, you can have fun in medical school!
On top of a wonderful student body, fantastic professors and a great curriculum, GW appealed to me for so many reasons. I wanted to join a school that would allow me to explore, grow, and serve the community. A few highlights - I explored different fields of medicine via a wide array of student interest groups. I joined the Global Health Scholarly Concentration and spent the summer abroad. I shared my passion for yoga with other students when I led Medicine on the Mat with amazing co-leaders, growing as a leader and sharing a longstanding passion with other students. I served as a manager in the GW Healing Clinic, helping uninsured and underserved patients receive free healthcare, an equally rewarding and humbling experience.
I am so grateful to be here at GW and I cannot wait to see what happens next!