Dr. Ashley Kanjira: Journey of Memories
Class of 2012
Attending Physician, Northside Hospital,
Georgia
“My fondest memories are the beauty of the island, the friends I made along the way, and the rigorous teaching schedule.”
That was Dr. Ashley Kanjira, class of 2012, describing his time at AUA.
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“I know it’s odd to call that particular one a ‘fond’ memory, but it set the stage for the rest of my journey in medicine,” he says. “Though it seemed painful at the time, how easy it looks in retrospect.”
Dr. Kanjira also met his wife at AUA, the relationship blossoming during his time at the university and influencing his journey in medicine.
“The curriculum at that time was a crucible,” he says. “What got us through those times of intense academic pressure were the study groups and friends we made along the way. We saw each other at our worst and our best, the highest highs, the lowest lows. We became best friends through that struggle. In terms of the overall journey, having that connection with her was the safety net that kept us both moving forward to be the doctors we are today.”
Dr. Kanjira has advice for students who get discouraged in their hunt for a medical school to attend. “Take a moment and assess whether or not you really want to do medicine,” he says. “If the answer is truly yes, and it is truly coming from you and what you desire (and not societal pressure), then put your back into the process. Reach out to those who have tread the path already. Don’t discount any avenues to further your education, whether it’s a word put in from doctors you may know, to a foreign medical school. Never stop working.”
Dr. Kanjira’s career path has led him to the emergency room, a choice influenced by practical considerations and his aptitude for quick decision-making. “To be honest, it was a joint decision between my wife and me,” he says. “Initially, I wanted to do surgery as I loved the procedural nature of it, but she flatly told me that it would not be compatible with our relationship (I’m paraphrasing) given the hours I would have to put into it, in residency and post.”
So Dr. Kanjira opted for a field with a procedural component, doesn’t really take calls, has decent pay, and is engaging. That was emergency medicine.
“The bonus is that it is the most ‘jack-of-all-trades’ specialties in medicine and that suits my nature more than most specialties would,” he says. “I think the pressures I faced in the condensed curriculum at AUA forced me to be able to think and process multiple data points quickly as well.”
✅ Request information on AUA's MD program TODAY!
YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS BEGINS HERE
✅ Request information on AUA's MD program TODAY!
