Dr. Mona Khalid has been a student leader since her undergraduate days at McMaster University. In this profile, Dr. Khalid reflects on the importance of Black History Month, her plans to practice medicine around the world, and her hopes to own a coffee shop one day.
Why did you pursue a career in anesthesiology?
I hopped on the anesthesia wagon pretty late in my third year of medical school, months after the elective portal had opened. A year before that, I hadn’t even thought about which hospital to select for my core anesthesia rotation – I essentially chose the hospital site with the best food court sushi. You can imagine my surprise when the first day of my rotation, void of any expectations, passed by in a blink.
I decided to pursue a career in anesthesia after reflecting on what in my life brings me energy. Despite the early mornings setting up an OR, the cognitive over-load during a complex case, or the momentary blips of stress, the decision to choose anesthesia came naturally. It was the only medical field that synthesized the core knowledge I had learned in medical school with my life experiences. I think the capacity to leave an impact in this field is infinite, and it occurs every day, with every case.
Historically, there haven’t been many Black physicians in this field. Did that knowledge ever impact you? If yes, then how?
It can be quite challenging to ignore sometimes; it’s uncommon for me to see another Black physician in the operating room. The imposter syndrome I had internalized impacted me, for sure. I was constantly battling with the reflexive urge to drop my anesthesia electives for deep fear that I didn’t belong.
I think I’ve only worked with one or two other Black anesthesiologists after rotating through five hospitals in Toronto. It was profound for me to reflect on this after having the privilege to provide care for many Black patients in the city already — many of whom had probably grown accustomed to working with physicians who don’t look like them.
Despite these thoughts, I’ve never been truly swayed away from the field. I could not be happier with my decision to pursue anesthesiology.
3. What is your favourite moment from your time in the program?
My favourite moments have always been the times I get to kick it with the rest of my cohort. Since we’re all on different schedules, it’s hard to plan often, but I always feel re-energized when we do. I’ll never forget the first time we all met during a social at Pogue’s Mahone by Bay and College. I distinctly remember laughing so hard with my other COs that my stomach hurt in the morning. The relief I felt that night was palpable, knowing these were the people with whom I would be experiencing residency with brought me indescribable comfort and gratitude.
Where do you see yourself in the next 15 years?
Over the next 15 years I hope to travel the world and be granted the privilege to work in other health care systems, particularly in Sudan and the Philippines, where my father and mother were born, respectively. It would be an honour to immerse myself, not only in both cultures, but to make a positive impact of any type on their communities’ health. I’ve been so lucky to train in Toronto and to have been exposed to the sheer quantity of resources, medical sub-specialties and internationally regarded physicians. This experience is astounding and unique to this city. I also want to gain perspectives beyond this hub and hope to understand how health care is delivered around the world.
As for other aspirations, a retirement dream of mine is to run a small coffee shop. My first job before any interest in medicine was a barista, and I think it’d be amusing and cyclical to end my career how I started it.
What advice do you have for any students thinking about going into anesthesiology?
It’s never too late! Don’t allow self-comparison to other highly qualified applicants deter you from your interest in this field. You feel true passion when you show up to work with enthusiasm, the willingness to learn and from chatting with different staff. It’s thisthat makes applicants truly memorable.
I encourage students to shadow both a resident and an attending at both academic and community sites. The wonderful thing about anesthesia is the 1-on-1 connection you’re able to build with a supervisor. When appropriate, many staff are also happy to chat about their lifestyle and personal journeys.
Also, try to gain exposure to the various clinical responsibilities within anesthesia, such as OB anesthesia, acute and chronic pain, trauma, critical care/ICU, regional anesthesia, etc. Too many people think anesthesiologists are confined to the OR, which you’ll learn is not the case!
Finally, if you don’t like coffee, you better start liking it today.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Over the years, Black History Month has become a dedicated period of reflection for me. As I progress in my training, the times of celebration are still occasionally interrupted by moments of anti-Black racism, whether witnessed or experienced. To me, it’s a reminder of its continued prevalence, which can be difficult to evade in health care. Black History Month also serves as a reminder of how much left there is for me to learn.
Many people use the descriptor ‘Black’ as an umbrella term for all Black individuals, but Black people can have different cultural, religious and social experiences as they relate to our historical roots. I can only speak to my unique experiences, growing up in Toronto as someone who identifies as North/East African, which is very different from my cousins who grew up in the States, which is different from my friends who are West or Central African, West Indian, AfricanAmerican, Haitian, etc. It’s imperative that I remind myself that I’ll never stop learning about everyone’s unique experiences being Black.
I am happy with the Black medical community that was built over time in Toronto. It was an honour to be a part of the Black Medical Students’ Association during my time in medical school here, and I hope to continue contributing to the community throughout residency.
