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| Near the interfaith room in the Medical Sciences Building are medical students Zohaib Ijaz, Arslan Arshad , Dala Eloubeidi, Hadil El-Sharkh and Yousef Omar. |
Arslan Arshad, a member of the Muslims in Medicine interest group at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, took this message to his fellow medical students and then to a wider group of university students this past fall. In a year when research findings describe physician burnout as “a public health crisis,” it was a timely topic.
“Research has demonstrated that overall long-term mental health is optimized more so by finding meaning within life as opposed to simply experiencing pleasant emotions such as happiness,” Arshad said. “While each person can potentially derive meaning from multiple sources during his or her own lifetime, religious experience is often a significant source for worldview development.”
A report released in 2019 by Harvard cited evidence that nearly half of all physicians experience burnout in some form, and that the percentage has worsened since 2016. It said the crisis “urgently demands action.”
The report heightened the national discussion on the importance of wellness for physicians and other healthcare providers.
Arshad, a second-year medical student at the USA College of Medicine, drew parallels between spirituality and positive psychology, and emphasized their impact on mental well-being. For those practicing the Islamic faith, practices would include sabr (patience), shukr (thankfulness), salah (daily prayer), dhikr (Godly remembrance), dua’a (supplication), qadar (divine decree), and recitation of the Quran. “For Muslims, religiosity provides an overarching source of meaning and instruction for one’s daily life,” Arshad said.
The talk opened up a new avenue of thought, one participant told Arshad following the presentation. “The feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” he said.
Muslims in Medicine is among several initiatives at the USA College of Medicine that are shining a spotlight on the importance of cultural diversity and inclusion. The interest group says its mission is to provide opportunities for spiritual and academic growth and fellowship among Muslim students and physicians, and serve as a resource to educate others about the faith.
For future physicians, such an understanding is key to treating patients effectively, said Franklin Trimm, M.D., associate dean of diversity and inclusion at the USA College of Medicine. “It is highly likely that healthcare professionals will care for Muslim patients during his or her career,” Trimm said. “Understanding Islamic beliefs will assist professionals in providing care that is culturally competent and thus better address the healthcare needs of Muslim patients.”
