Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD: Medical School: What to Expect

Ghassan Al-Sabbagh MD received his Doctorate of Medicine from Damascus University School of Medicine in Syria. Like all medical students, he spent years in school and underwent a rigorous residency program before becoming a doctor. If you are considering becoming a doctor, here is what you can expect after enrolling in medical school.

It will take you four years to complete your education, plus you'll need to spend another three to seven years in a residency program. The first two years of your education you will spend in the classroom and participate in labs. You'll have to take basic science classes, including pathology, anatomy, microbiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology. This is also the time you will learn how to interview and examine patients. During the first two years, you’ll also take between four and five courses that various in disciplines. By the end of the second year, you’ll be ready to take the first step of the USMLE.

The third and fourth years of medical school you will gain clinical experience. This is the time you will do rotations at hospitals and clinics that are affiliated with your school. You will be required to spend time assisting the residents. The residents you work with will depend on which specialty you've chosen to study. At the end of the fourth year, you'll need to take and pass, the second step of the USMLE.

After getting through the four years of medical school, you’ll earn you’ll Doctorate of Medicine degree. You will still need to pass the board exam and spend time completing your residency program. Ghassan Al-Sabbagh  has been a practicing doctor for more than thirty years, opening a gastroenterology private practice in Raleigh, North Carolina.