Shukri Dualeh’s family is originally from Somaliland but relocated to Dubai, where Shukri was born. The family made another big move to the United States after her mother applied for a green card lottery in 2001. They settled in upstate New York where she’d later go to college at the University of Rochester. After completing her pre-med program, she enrolled in Drexel’s Pathway to Medical School, a post-baccalaureate program that helps underrepresented students get into medical school. Shukri is currently in her second year at the College of Medicine. She served as class president for the past two years and was recently elected as Vice President of the Student Government Association. She also volunteers as a smoking cessation counselor at the Salvation Army clinic in Philadelphia and serves on the Student National Medical Association executive board. In addition to medicine, Shukri is passionate about singing. In her free time, she performs in a band called The Dennis Novack Experience with other students. They practice throughout the year and are a main act at the annual Pediatric AIDS Benefit Concert.

 I come from a family of immigrants. My family is from Somaliland, but I was actually born in Dubai. There isn't great health care there, so growing up I had a lot of family members who were affected by that. That's when I knew that I wanted to be a doctor.

 Coming to Drexel I really wasn't sure what the environment would be like, and I was so happy to find that the students really did help each other. One thing I knew for sure about coming to medical school was that it was going to be a lot of work. But the one thing I wasn't so sure about is who I would meet, and if I would feel supported. Coming to Drexel I really have met a lot of great friends who I could not be where I am now without them.

 I'm a part of the Dennis Novack Experience, which is a rock band made up of all Drexel students. And we practice every week at Dr. Novack's house. And he makes us food, and we really just enjoy each other's company. You have an insane schedule in medical school, but you do find that, if you are passionate about something, you really can find the time for it. I've been singing since I can remember, and so I knew that I didn't want to stop once I got to medical school.

 I've learned that I can withstand a lot of stress, and really learn how to manage it. Through the support here at Drexel is how I learned how to manage my stress and how to manage my time, and really succeed. 

 
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