Name
Mahmoud Ballout, MD
Residency Program
Internal Medicine
Program Year
PGY-3
Medical School
Medical University of the Americas
Home
Toronto, Canada; Beirut, Lebanon
About
Where did you go to medical school?
I went to a Caribbean medical school.
What brought you all the way here to complete residency?
I did my rotation here when I was a student in medical school. I then applied here for residency.
Why Internal Medicine?
I like how broad it is and how you go through every specialty. Also, there are more opportunities for specializing versus something like general surgery.
You have rotated throughout a few hospitals in the US, especially here in the South; is there something that is different about NGHS or something that almost shocked you when you first started working here?
Something that I think was very different in NGHS was the hospital culture. It is different than what I experienced at other hospitals in other states.
What is the most difficult part of Internal Medicine that you have encountered so far, or something particularly annoying?
The worst thing is dealing with case managers and social admits. Definitely that.
Where does most of your family live, and are they close by?
Not at all. My brother lives in Dallas, but the rest of my family lives in Lebanon.
Do you find it difficult going through residency without any family nearby?
Not really. I have been living the past 12 years by myself so I am… acclimated. However, if this was my first year [living alone], then it would be extremely difficult for anyone. A good support system is important in the beginning.
Do you have any hobbies or anything you like to focus on in your free time?
I don’t have any “real” hobbies, but I love playing pool. I have not been able to play it as much as I want because of working now.
Finally, is there anything you want to say to pre-meds that want a career in medicine?
Focus, especially during these times, on what you want to do and choose your passion early on. This career requires a lot of dedication and hard work, so you must shape yourself as early as possible to become the person you need to be for medicine.