White Coat Profile: Mariam Ewais

The White Coat Ceremony marks the first time a medical student will don his or her white coat, the defining symbol of a physician. The coat bestows a great honor on each student, and with it comes a responsibility to uphold the trust of every patient they will encounter. The Class of 2028 will receive their white coats on July 19 during a ceremony that begins at 3:30 p.m. in the West Ballroom of the Phoenix Convention Center downtown.

Meet Mariam Ewais

A native Arizonan, Mariam Ewais identifies as a first-generation American. Her father hails from Jordan and her mother is of Hispanic descent.

Ewais stayed in Arizona throughout her education and attended Arizona State University for her undergraduate studies.

Her biggest supporters are undoubtedly her friends and family, including her parents, younger brother, grandma and uncle.

Path toward Medicine

What was the spark that led you to become a physician?

Growing up in Arizona, our community housed countless refugees, and I witnessed many fall through the cracks of the health care system. My earliest memories are being buckled in our family car as my parents raced back and forth, delivering clothes, prescriptions and other necessities to these families.

My parents constantly emphasized Islamic principles of service and set the example of how to live by these tenants. My journey has been guided by this philosophy and how my parents modeled service and sacrifice.

I knew any prospective careers needed to be rooted in these values. Various medical related courses, specifically one on cancer, sparked and nurtured my growing fascination in science. The intellectual challenge that science posed captivated me like nothing before and, soon, passion for the content and determination to master the material fueled me.

However, shadowing an internist transformed my view from considering the career of a physician to finding purpose within it. Visiting his clinic, I witnessed the healing and comfort this doctor provided in such a personal manner. Experiencing this myself allowed me a deeper understanding of the impact a physician can have. To offer even a fraction of what he did for his patients, community and myself became all I wanted to do.

From my experiences, I realized that being a physician merges my fervor toward the challenge of sciences with my fundamental desire to serve the vulnerable in ways deeper than I initially thought. This is an extension of the work I loved, connecting and uplifting the vulnerable, in a way I had never imagined.

With Islamic roots as my guide, I am determined to become a physician that uplifts the underserved and embraces every patient in a personal, compassionate manner.

Did you do any volunteering in health fields prior to medical school?

My experiences in health care volunteering tended to gravitate toward diverse, vulnerable groups. I started at Banner Desert where consoling NICU patients taught me how to rely on body language and instincts to understand their needs.

Later, I coordinated volunteers to accompany pediatric patients during their extended hospital stays to ease the isolation by playing games with them. Facilitating this effort for young hospice and hospital patients taught me that there is always more we can do, especially as future physicians, to provide comfort even when there are no further medical interventions.

I also spent time volunteering at Crossroads Rehabilitation Center where I worked on a team to craft hands-on workshops over a variety of topics. My undergraduate research and, later, my thesis project was centered around substance use disorders, so I found translating this scientific knowledge to practical interventions very fulfilling.

Finally, I volunteered at a student run refugee clinic where I recognized the urgency for more diverse, culturally conscious physicians in the United States, inspiring me to fill this need.

The College of Medicine – Phoenix

Why did you choose the College of Medicine – Phoenix?

From my first exposure, I was impressed by the curriculum. The integration of clinical care and experiences starting as early as semester one. Along with the Doctoring Program, this assures me that I will be exceptionally well-prepared for patient encounters early on.

I also value the unique addition that the scholarly project adds to the curriculum. The U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix is one of the few schools offering this opportunity, and I am eager to dive into it.

Outside of academics, being able to give back to the communities that raised me and contributed to who I am today is part of my wildest dreams. There are countless opportunities the school offers for community engagement and outreach.

From Street Medicine to mentoring youth, I cannot wait to get involved. What I am most excited for, though, is the opportunity to volunteer at the Wesley Community and Health Center and continue serving the refugee community here.

What excites you most about beginning medical school?

Medical school has long been a goal I have been working toward as a step in the journey of becoming a physician. Being able to transition from dreaming to doing is incredibly exciting.

I am also ready to get back into the routine of school again and finally start to learn about things I've been waiting to do for so long. To be in a position where I can consider and provide tangible treatments for people's ailments is incredibly rewarding, and I am eager to dive into this journey.

Additionally, I love meeting new people and am excited to get to know my new classmates who share common goals and work together to achieve them. I also greatly enjoy working in study groups; the feeling of people all making progress together is something I greatly enjoy.

Significance of the White Coat

What does the white coat mean to you?

To me, the white coat is a culmination of all the hard work, passion and devotion it took to get to this point and what more of it is to come. While it signifies an accomplishment, it also represents a step into a more serious chapter of my life and the responsibility I must take on for my future patients, and that I have been deemed ready to start this journey.