Rasha Buhumaid, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, began her post-medical school journey at the George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). She matched in emergency medicine at GW and completed her residency as part of the International Sponsored Residency Program, a program managed by the Office of International Medicine Programs (IMP).
Since then, Buhumaid’s medical career has been marked by immense growth and success. She proceeded to complete her fellowship in Point-of-Care Ultrasound at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Upon returning to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Buhumaid was thereafter appointed the associate program director, and subsequently the program director of Emergency Medicine Residency, at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City before she assumed her current position at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
During her time at GW, Buhumaid cultivated her knowledge of advanced emergency ultrasound to prepare for her dynamic career in emergency medicine. Throughout her career, she has developed ultrasound curriculum for emergency medicine residency programs in the UAE, delivered workshops to physicians in various specialties in the UAE and Middle East, and pioneered the Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certification program in the Middle East and North Africa region, which she now oversees as a program director.
Buhumaid reports that her time at GW inspired her to pursue a sub-specialty in emergency medicine, and her pursuit of this passion ultimately led to her becoming the first UAE national to be trained in emergency ultrasound. Read more about Buhumaid’s journey from GW to being a leader of emergency medicine below:
What drew you to the emergency medicine field while at UAE University? How did this lead you to GW’s residency program?
Buhumaid: I decided to pursue a career in emergency medicine because, during my clinical rotations at medical school, I realized that I enjoyed the work in all specialties and all age groups, and the only place I would be able to practice that is emergency medicine. I was attracted to the fast pace and dynamic nature of the field; the ability to make quick decisions under pressure, handle a wide range of medical conditions, and have direct impact on patients’ lives. After completing my medical school training at UAE University, I applied for residency in various programs in North America. I was lucky to have the opportunity to join GW because of GW's emergency medicine residency program’s strong reputation for providing excellent training and opportunities for professional growth.
Who did you meet and work with on a regular basis while in GW’s residency program? How have those relationships helped you throughout your career?
Buhumaid: During my residency, I worked closely with all the GW emergency medicine faculty members who have been a great support throughout my training. They all made GW feel like a home away from home. Four of the faculty members who had a lasting impact on my journey are Keith Boniface, MD; Colleen Roche, MD; Hamid Shokoohi, MD, MPH ’06; and Ali Pourmand, MD, MPH ’06. They were very supportive in guiding my future career plans and are still available to answer any questions and provide advice. Apart from the faculty, our residency batch was amazing. My co-residents became my family. I am still in contact with most of them. I was lucky because some visited the UAE, and I was able to show them around and look forward to welcoming my friends who are planning to visit Dubai or UAE.
How have the moves and different appointments to various positions over the past decade impacted you? Is there a favorite position among your past experiences and if so, why?
Buhumaid: The various roles have helped me grow and learn. I take every role as an opportunity to help me impact a bigger number of patients through training future health care providers. I most enjoy my role as the program director of the Fundamentals of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Certificate Program, because I see the impact of the program on the care provided to patients through the trainee’s feedback.
What role did the IMP office / team played during your journey at GW, and did this impact your experience?
Buhumaid: As an international medical graduate, the IMP team facilitated the transition from the UAE to the United States, and continuously followed up on my progress in training. They helped me understand the requirements, provided guidance with the process, and they were always available to address any challenges I faced during training. Having the IMP team gave me the peace of mind, knowing that if I face any challenge related to the any process, they would be my first point of contact for advice. Thank you to the IMP team who facilitated every step of my residency training at GW, you played a crucial role in my journey.
IMP is proud to support Buhumaid and all those at any stage of their journey towards a career in international medicine. For more information on our programs, contact the SMHS IMP office at impinfo@gwu.edu.