Delve into the unique perspectives of our diverse student body — including our cultural backgrounds, relationships, and religion — and see how they impact the study of medicine.
Identities
Diversity of perspective makes our class great. Here are some of the lenses through which we view the world.
School
Everyone approaches medical school differently; here are some ways that have worked for us.
Our Furry Friends
Dog or cat person? Maybe both or neither? Hear from us about our experience taking care of our non-human friends in this city.
Religions
Find out how students continue to practice their faith while in St. Louis.
Relationships
Advice on navigating interpersonal relationships alongside your academic endeavors.
Where We’ve Been
We all come from different places. See how we stay true to our roots in medical school.
Sports and the Outdoors
Do you even lift, bruh? Need a 40+ mile path for biking? What’s you’re favorite yoga pose? Find out how we have fun while burning off some steam.
The Arts
Sometimes you need a little Bob Ross to help de-stress from classes. Hear about how students get creative.
Section Editor:
Tiffany Chen
Co-Editor-in-Chief, Perspectives Section Editor
Hello! My name is Tiffany, and I am originally from Michigan. I went to the University of Michigan where I studied Spanish and Neuroscience. My favorite things to do outside of med school are climbing, playing tennis, crocheting, movie/dinner nights with friends, and long walks in Forest Park! Welcome to WashU and don’t be a stranger if you see me here next year!
Maida Duncan
Perspectives, Health & Resources Section Editor
Hi! My name is Maida and I am originally from St. Louis! I did my undergrad at the University of Toronto, majoring in Neuroscience and Molecular Biology, with a minor in Psychology. While I was unsure about returning to St. Louis for medical school because I loved being away from home, I’ve found the transition to be easy and my classmates at WashU to be absolutely incredible. When I’m not studying, you’ll find me going for walks in Forest Park with friends, listening to music, exploring St. Louis, and tending to my succulents! I found the Dis-O Guide to be a great resource when deciding to come back to St. Louis and I hope it’s helpful for you too!
Mimi Giang
Perspectives Section Editor, Visual/Media Editor
Hi, everyone! Huge congratulations to you for completing a challenging application process, and welcome to WashU Med! My name is Mimi, and I’m from Southern California. I attended UCLA c/o 2020, earning a B.S. in Molecular, Cell & Developmental Biology, and took one gap year. In my free time, I love to play music, watch TV shows, and play video games with my friends. I remember being in your shoes, and thought that the Dis-O Guide was a great resource for de-mystifying WashU, the Central West End, and the city of St. Louis. We’re so excited to welcome you all and can’t wait to show you around!
Aseeyah Islam
Perspectives Section Editor
Hi, my name is Aseeyah and I’m originally from the Atlanta metropolitan area (studied ChemE at Georgia Tech!), but St. Louis is my current home for these four years of medical school. I feel so blessed to be here, not just for my career but for the lovely human beings I get to know while I’m here. I hope that their perspectives throughout this guide will give you a better understanding of just how diverse, open-minded, and inspiring this community is, and hopefully make you more excited to join us here at WashU!