Student Testimonial: Summara Abaid
Online Master’s Degree in Medical Physiology and Pharmacology
Summara Abaid
“UF’s program has helped me use what I have learned in everyday life.”
A Spring 2024 graduate of UF’s online MS in medical physiology and pharmacology program, Summara Abaid is currently navigating two crucial tasks: mapping out her forthcoming academic and professional pursuits and providing care for a family member.
Abaid graciously took some time out of her schedule to speak with us about what made UF’s online program the right choice for her and how the curriculum prepared her for the next step in her career.
UF’s Flexibility Makes the Difference
“I want[ed] to learn more about physiology and pharmacology, and it fits what I want to pursue career-wise,” Abaid said of the program. While many institutions offer degrees in the field, UF’s medical physiology and pharmacology program stood out to her.
Courses are offered year-round in fall, spring and summer semesters. As Abaid discovered, once a student has been accepted, they can begin the following semester. Some programs offered at other universities require a fall start.
“When I was looking for programs, it was the most flexible, in my opinion. If I applied earlier or later on in the semester, I could still start the next semester. It gave me the opportunity to start classes whenever I could.”
A Maryland resident, Abaid also enjoyed the flexibility around when and where she completed her assignments. “I could just do [coursework] from home or from wherever I was. I didn’t have to attend the classes, where, with other programs, I would be kind of limited. I was not limited by this program.”
“And because the classes were asynchronous, that allowed me to do other things while also pursuing my education. You can watch the lectures anywhere, anytime. You can also rewatch those lectures as many times as you need. So you’re not limited, especially if you have family responsibilities or a job.”
Pathway to a Preventive Medicine or Primary Care Career
Abaid is currently focused on preparing to take the MCAT in spring and completing medical school applications. “I have actually taken the MCAT before, and I literally saw some of the same things I learned in the program in the questions. And that really helps. I think the MCAT was easier to me in a way because of UF’s program [and] the way the material was taught in the classes.”
UF’s online medical physiology and pharmacology degree was designed with MCAT takers in mind. Students have noted that the program’s curriculum was especially beneficial to them in the Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems and the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills sections of the MCAT, as program director and professor Peter P. Sayeski, Ph.D., explains in this short video.
An aspiring doctor, Abaid links her desired future specialty to very personal motivations. “I want to do preventive medicine or primary care. Considering my experience with my family members being sick, I feel if you can prevent issues from developing further, you can prevent people from suffering a lot of lifelong illnesses. So my focus is to provide the best primary care.”
A Curriculum That Prepares Students for Success
Abaid found some of the program content challenging but ultimately beneficial, especially for those seeking to go into a medical profession, as she is. “Some exams were multiple choice. But then, during Dr. [Stephan] Jahn’s classes, he transformed that to short answers and they were harder. But I think that helps you really learn the content because if you have short-answer questions based on the lectures, it makes you want to pay attention.”
She added: “If you’re taking this program to help you get into medical school, I think the information presented in this program was very like medical school in a condensed version.”
Exploring Controversial Topics and Beyond
Abaid enjoyed the breadth of the program curriculum, which did not shy away from controversial topics in the medical field.
“I found the medical cannabis course very interesting. That was one of my favorite courses because of the research. It was amazing how it’s presented. Every aspect of the class. I really enjoyed Dr. Jahn’s teaching because it makes sense to you. I hadn’t realized medical marijuana has such an impact. We discussed the benefits and the cons of medical cannabis and then the question of, you know, is it good or bad.”
“The content of the pharmacology curriculum was surprising too — the function of the body, what happens when it goes wrong and then what kind of treatment options you have based on the latest research. What kind of drugs are there to target those issues? So that was really cool in my opinion.”
Next Steps and a Few Words of Advice
While preparing for the MCAT and completing medical school applications, Abaid is simultaneously leveraging her knowledge and credentials to find a job. “I’m looking for a job that allows me to get more clinical experience,” she explained. Having a master’s degree in medical physiology and pharmacology will surely benefit her in her search.
Abaid left us with some advice for prospective students of the UF program: “Take the courses very seriously, because they are very informative — especially for the MCAT.”
Are you ready for the MCAT and medical school? If not, we’re here to help. Get more information about our online medical physiology and pharmacology program or apply now.
