A Giving Spirit: Yostina Farid

Being able to give back to those in need and those who have helped her along the way has been a longtime dream of Yostina Farid.

The rising fourth-year College of Medicine student dedicated her second and third year at Northeast Ohio Medical University to returning a favor her predecessors once gave to her — a support network she could count on.

“I’ve always had a lot of support from people around me, so I really wanted to give back to the underclassmen, especially for Step 1. Preparing for Step 1 had a significant impact on my life. Studying for this exam can be so draining and takes a lot out of you, so it’s essential to have the most support you can during that time. I learned a lot from my experience and wanted to give back and make sure that I could be there for students who are going through those seemingly endless days of studying,” says Farid.

Step 1 is a day-long national exam that medicine students take when transitioning to their third year. The exam is made up of seven 60-minute sections that assess students’ understanding of important, basic science concepts.

In addition to mentoring her peers, Farid has tutored students in anatomy, histology, cell biology, physiology and Step 1 material. She has also been an active member of several groups on campus. Farid was recently inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha – NEOMED Zeta Chapter.

“I think AOA is very important — it’s all about leadership, community service, research, awards and academics. The biggest thing that I’ve learned in medical school is the importance of maintaining a balance in life. I think AOA really empowers us to do that. It really focuses on and encourages balance, because it motivates future physicians to broaden their horizons to do other things outside of school and academics,” she says.

Going above and beyond

Farid’s dedication to helping others goes far beyond her peers at NEOMED. In 2016, she volunteered to go on a medical mission to Ghana.

She describes the mission as a perfect opportunity — a trip to Africa, a medical mission and Christian- based. For twelve days, Farid and her counterparts woke up at 4:30 every morning to travel to local villages to provide health care. The group was able to educate villagers, teach principles of preventative medicine, screen for and diagnose illnesses, conduct procedures and provide medications for hundreds of people who had never seen a health care provider before.

Stateside, Farid, a practicing Coptic Orthodox (the main form of Christianity in Egypt), also shares her time and talent with the Coptic Medical Association of North America by spearheading local medical events.

The grand finale

On top of her numerous volunteer efforts, Farid is preparing to enter her fourth and final year of medical school — one that she is looking forward to.

In her final semesters as a NEOMED student, Farid will complete rotations in Chicago, Boston, Columbus, Cleveland and Akron.

Farid, who has spent some time reflecting on her NEOMED experience says, “I’m so humbled by the patients that I’ve seen, the caring physicians and nurses I have worked with, the faculty and professors who sacrifice for us, the research mentors who have guided me, and the loving support system I have. I’m incredibly thankful for my experience here.”