Student Spotlight: Faluk Khan
From the heart of Stockton, California, to the islands of the Caribbean, Faluk’s journey to becoming a doctor is a testament to resilience, community, and ambition. After overcoming personal and academic challenges, including a childhood spent in and out of hospitals, Faluk’s dream began to take shape. Now, as he approaches the end of his medical school journey at Trinity School of Medicine, Faluk is not only preparing for a career in Internal Medicine but also envisioning a future where he can bring healthcare to his community in Pakistan. His story is one of determination, passion, and a deep desire to give back to the communities that shaped him.
Faluk was born and raised in Stockton, California, about an hour and a half east of San Francisco. He spent part of his high school years in Pakistan with his father, a first-generation immigrant. He attended school there for three years before returning to Stockton to finish his senior year. Afterward, Faluk spent three years at a junior college before completing his undergraduate degree at San Francisco State University.
Several factors inspired Faluk to pursue a career in medicine. Born with a congenital condition, he spent much of his childhood in and out of hospitals and doctor's offices. As he grew older, he witnessed his grandfather suffer from strokes and heart attacks, often due to a lack of knowledge about healthcare and medicine. This sparked Faluk’s interest in how medicine could improve the lives of people in his community. As a Pakistani American, he also noticed the lack of doctors from Pakistan in his area, which further fueled his desire to make a difference. He explained, “There are not a lot of doctors that are from Pakistan and that speak the language that can resonate with the people in my community.” As an undergrad student, Faluk knew that medicine was his calling. He wanted to connect with people in his community, making them feel at ease by showing that he truly understood them—not just through their words, but by recognizing their culture and way of life, even if they spoke in their native tongue.
After completing his undergraduate degree, Faluk enrolled in a pre-med program at another Caribbean medical school. However, due to strict requirements, he was not admitted into their MD program, prompting him to explore other options. As he researched various Caribbean medical schools, he was drawn to Trinity School of Medicine for its smaller class sizes and tight-knit community, which felt like the perfect fit for him.
In our interview, Faluk shared that his transition from California to the island was seamless, as the environment reminded him a lot of Pakistan. He quickly made friends and got to know everyone on a first-name basis. “It was probably the best two years of my life,” he says. From the housekeeping staff to the taxi drivers, Faluk has maintained connections with people on the island and still keeps in touch with them to this day.
When asked if Trinity was the right choice for him, Faluk said, “I think it was a great choice for me. I found a real sense of belonging here. I especially appreciated that I was able to complete all my clinical clerkships in one place.” Faluk also noted that, from speaking with peers at other Caribbean medical schools, they’re constantly moving around, always searching for new places to live, which makes it hard to form lasting connections. At Trinity, however, Faluk has had the same group of friends for the past four years, and despite the demanding schedules, he’s always had someone to connect with, talk to, and rely on.
“I met some of my closest friends on the island.”
Faluk also shared that he has always felt supported at Trinity. He recalled how approachable the professors were on the island, often making themselves available to talk about anything, not just school-related matters. “We had volleyball tournaments, and our Pharmacy professor at the time was on my team. We’d play together, and I could ask him questions. When my uncle had a heart attack, he even explained the medication they were giving him,” Faluk said. He also highlighted the strong sense of support he felt during his rotations. “The deans have an open-door policy and are very receptive. My preceptors have been amazing. Last Thanksgiving, I was in general surgery, and my preceptor invited me to his house to celebrate. Another preceptor, an anesthesiologist, invites us medical students to a potluck at his house every month. It’s been great—it really feels like one big family.”
While on the island, Faluk helped start the karaoke club as a way for him and his friends to unwind and relieve stress. It began as a small gathering of five or six people but eventually grew to include twenty to thirty students. As of today, the karaoke club continues to meet monthly at Coconut Grill on the island. In addition to karaoke, Faluk was also involved in the basketball club. Once he moved to Georgia for clerkships, Faluk became an active member of the Student Government Association and Trinity’s Rotaract Club.
Faluk’s favorite experience at Trinity has been the weekend after midterms on the island when he and his friends rented an Airbnb in Bequia, one of the Grenadine Islands. To their surprise, they ran into dozens of other Trinity students who had the same idea. The group spent the weekend together, relaxing and celebrating making it through the first half of the term. It was during this trip that Faluk bonded with some of his closest friends in med school, Roshan and Kade.
Faluk believes that Trinity has done a great job preparing him for residency. His clinical clerkships have been a valuable learning experience, allowing him to gain hands-on skills. “I’ve learned techniques like performing ultrasounds and inserting IVs. I just finished a radiology rotation where I became more confident in reading X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans.”
As he prepares for the Match, Faluk hopes to match into Internal Medicine to eventually pursue a Pulmonology & Critical Care fellowship. After completing a fellowship, he plans to return to Stockton, California to practice. However, like many, Faluk has even bigger aspirations for the future. “I dream of building a hospital in Pakistan. I wouldn’t be there year-round, but I hope to find doctors who can manage it daily. I also want to organize medical missions, bringing doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to Pakistan two or three times a year.” Although he acknowledges that hospitals exist in major cities, he points out that they are often too expensive for the average person. Faluk’s family comes from remote villages, where the nearest hospital is a two-hour drive away. His long-term vision is to build a hospital that serves the 40 or so villages in that region, making healthcare more accessible to the rural community.
Faluk’s advice for prospective students coming to a Caribbean med school is to keep an open mind. “As long as you stay open-minded and embrace every experience, you’ll have a fantastic time. You’ll gain incredible experiences and learn so much along the way.”
If you’re interested in learning how Trinity can support your dream of becoming a doctor, we invite you to reach out to our admissions team today! Contact us here.
