Zain Malik

As the son of two healthcare professionals, it’s no surprise Zain Malik has always had a strong interest in science and medicine. While an undergraduate student at SUNY Albany, Zain was a research assistant and vice president of the pre-med club. Now in his first year of medical school at TouroCOM Middletown, Malik is training to become a physician. “It is one of the most noble professions. There is nothing more fulfilling than making people’s lives better,” he explains.

Born and raised in Middletown, Malik is grateful to be at a school that serves his local community. In addition to the high level of learning and the state-of-the-art facilities, TouroCOM Middletown offers health services in the area. “TouroCOM provides quality health education to my community, which I value. In addition, the faculty and staff truly care about your success. The field of medicine is constantly changing and advancing. TouroCOM has helped me gauge how I learn best, which will help me adapt to these changes,” he says.

Zain chose to pursue a DO degree due to its emphasis on treating the whole body and preventative care. “MDs and DOs both have the same goal in providing excellent patient care. But as DOs, we are trained with additional diagnostic and treatment skills to help better patient outcomes. For example, we are trained in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), which is a hands-on technique to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury,” he says.

Zain is excited about his journey in medical school, and ultimately, as a doctor. “I do not know which particular field I will pursue as of now. There are so many options. I know TouroCOM will provide me with ample opportunities and experiences during my clinical rotations. This will help me choose a field I am most passionate about during my third and fourth years,” he says.