Tabitha Demissie
Class of 2028
Hi everyone, my name is Tabitha and I am a rising M2 at GW. I was born in Oakland, CA and
was raised in the fabulous Las Vegas, NV for the majority of my life. Growing up, I loved all
things performance arts, whether it was singing/songwriting, playing the flute, or dancing (and I
actually still love to do all these things today).
One of the biggest reasons why I wanted to be a doctor was because of my own personal health
journey. When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with Neurosarcoidosis. My mother tried to
figure out what that meant, and as a little kid I was unsure if I would get any better. Every week,
I went to several specialists, ranging from neurology, radiology, and oncology, to hear the same
things and receive the same medications. This experience was made even worse when my mom
lost her job for a year and we were left uninsured. The burden of those medical visits became too
much to handle.
It was during that arduous journey when becoming a doctor spoke to me. I knew I could be the
empathetic and compassionate physician many patients needed, that I could reach an
understanding with them through our shared experiences. Even further, I wanted to work with
underserved populations, specifically people with limited health care or insurance access. It felt
like my calling as a former patient who understood the frustration and helplessness.
This was why I was drawn to GW. While applying to medical school, I focused on schools that
emphasized their curriculum not only on serving vulnerable populations, but also learning about
the social determinants of health and health policy. The integrated curriculum at GW created a
perfect balance between medicine and the social factors that affect a community’s health. I was
also pleased to hear about the Health Policy Scholarly Concentration, where I actively engage in
my interests and learn from physicians involved in legislation regarding current health issues. As
I enter my second year, I am thrilled to continue this journey with GW and see what awaits me
throughout the years to come.