Get to Know: Daniel Bishay
Our “Get to Know” series introduces several first-year medical students as the college welcomes the Entering Class of 2023.
Meet Daniel Bishay, who proudly wears his white coat as a symbol of all his parents’ pursuit of a better life in the US, as well as his hard work and determination to find “the right fit” in medical school. He’s inspired to become a compassionate physician like several doctors he has encountered throughout his life.
Tell us about yourself, Daniel!
My name is Daniel Bishay but all my friends and family call me Dan. I am 29 years old from sunny southern California, where I basically lived my entire life up until I moved to East Lansing to attend medical school. I lived in SoCal with my parents and older brother who I am really close with. In my free time you could find me at the beach or at the driving range hitting golf balls (badly haha).
What was your journey to medical school like and why did you want to become a doctor?
My desire to become a doctor really started when I was young. My parents immigrated to the United States from Egypt in search of a better life, for themselves and their future children. My parents worked tirelessly, working multiple jobs to be able to provide for my brother and me. Growing up, we were cared for by physicians who embodied what it meant to care for low-income, immigrant families. I knew that one day, I’d love to take care of these community members in the same way.
My undergrad classes were hard, but I also realized that I didn’t have a lot of guidance as a first-generation student without family in the health care field. I faced other difficulties, including a close family member getting a cancer diagnosis. The fear and uncertainty during that time was immense. Seeing the genuine care provided to my family member was incredibly impactful and only further underscored my decision to pursue medicine. Thanks to the amazing oncology team, they are now seven years cancer free.
During graduate school at the Keck Graduate Institute, I met pre-health program director, Dr. Joon Kim, who became one of my biggest supporters. He always believed in me, even when no one outside of my family and friends did.
As I prepared for medical school applications, I worked at the biopharmaceutical company Amgen. I helped develop new drugs and biologics through clinical trials and supported product and process improvements for existing commercial products. I loved the work I did, but when I would hear about the impact our medicine had on patients’ lives, I couldn’t shake the gut feeling of wanting to be the one directly caring for these patients.
After having previously unsuccessful MCATs and application cycles, I tried again, this time improving my MCAT and was fortunate enough to be granted an interview at MSU College of Human Medicine. They really recognized my journey, and I am beyond lucky to say that I get to be a Spartan MD one day.
What are you looking forward to most in med school?
I look forward to utilizing the knowledge I obtained during my undergraduate and graduate studies, and to learn the skills and knowledge required to be a caring, competent physician. Med school has always been a dream that had seemed so far away, but now that it’s here, I’m excited to soak it all in, and become the best doctor I can be.
I’m also pretty excited to attend MSU football games 😊.
What does wearing a white coat mean to you?
To me, a white coat represents the start of a journey I have worked so hard to reach. It is a culmination of, not only the hard work that it took to get here, but also the sacrifices my parents made in immigrating to the United States to ensure my brother and I had the opportunity to have a life where the possibilities were endless.
Why did you choose MSU College of Human Medicine?
I chose MSU College of Human Medicine because I felt the school’s mission best aligned with my own – one that emphasizes community medicine and caring for individuals and families similar in the way my family was cared for when we were younger.
This college really embodies a culture of student wellness. During interview day, I never had the level of anxiety I had in other interviews. That day genuinely felt like a chance to speak with friends and convey to them why I wanted to go into medicine, in a non-stressful, casual way. To me, it was a good sign that MSU takes good care of their students during the four years of medical school.
Anything else you want to share?
If I could maybe share just a piece of advice for aspiring medical students – despite how arduous and impossible it may seem in the moment to attain medical school acceptance, just know that if you really are passionate about having a career as a physician it will shine through with the right medical school. Eventually, you will find the school that recognizes your passion and journey, and they will give you that chance just like MSU College of Human Medicine gave me. Don’t give up.