My name is Kokab Khan and I am originally from Pakistan. I grew up in Karachi and there was tremendous emphasis on education in my family. There was always an unspoken competition amongst the cousins and friends when it came to grades and it also became a matter of prestige for the parents as well. So there was plenty of motivation to do well and I always ‘won’ those little battles and made my parents proud. Admission in a local medical college however was a different ball-game altogether. Less than 1% of those who appear in test are admitted in these medical schools and needless to say that it was one of the happiest days in my life when I heard the news of my admission.
 
I have always wanted to be a doctor for several reasons. It gives me comfort when I can contribute in easing someone’s pain. I grew up in a society where doctors were not necessarily rich people but they were given uncanny respect in the society and i always looked up to that.
 
I chose Altoona mainly for the people that I met during the interview process. Everyone was sweet and accommodating and I felt sincerely welcomed. Now that I have spent sometime in this program, I realize that the warmth from faculty and staff was not just on display for recruitment and it’s genuine. This is an unopposed and a very hands-on program and you get tremendous opportunity to learn and it’s primarily that experience that helps our graduates’ secure coveted position once they graduate.
 
I was interested in family practice because I like the challenge of diagnosing at the very initial signs of trouble. I also like the idea that you get to learn all aspects of medicine and not just one.
 
I have 3 beautiful kids and an adorable husband (he is making me write that) and I am embarrassingly addicted to ‘desperate housewives’. In my leisure I like to go to dinners with my husband and enjoy spending time with my kids in the beautiful outdoors of Altoona.