Halil Beqaj, a medical student at Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, is set to graduate this spring with both a medical degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. Beqaj's journey at Columbia has been marked by his passion for science and his desire to make a difference in the field of medicine.
From a young age, Beqaj was inspired by his father, a pathologist, who introduced him to the world of science. "My father helped me discover my passion for science at the earliest birthday I can remember," Beqaj recalls. "He got me a microscope for my fifth birthday, and I vividly remember looking through the lens and seeing 'millions and millions of blood cells!'"
It was a tragic event during a family visit to their home village in Montenegro that sparked Beqaj's interest in medicine. The sudden death of a close relative due to a complication during a routine procedure made him realize the importance of healthcare and the impact it has on families. "I developed a deep sense of wanting to make sure nobody else had to experience what my family had," Beqaj explains. "I wanted to understand the underlying mechanisms that caused such mortality and morbidity."
Choosing Columbia for his medical education was an easy decision for Beqaj because of the diversity it offered. He was drawn to the diverse patient population and the opportunity to learn from bright peers with a wide variety of interests and backgrounds. "I feel extremely lucky to get to learn in one of the most diverse cities in the world," Beqaj says. "In addition, there are some diseases that I was certain I would only see in textbooks, yet the reality I have been so fortunate to experience is that people come from all over the world for the rarest of diseases to be treated by the experts here at Columbia."
In addition to his medical studies, Beqaj pursued a fifth-year program in Biomedical Sciences to dedicate himself to full-time research. This program allowed him to delve into an innovative project in cardiothoracic surgery, an area he is passionate about. "It provided an incredible opportunity for me to dive into an innovative project aimed at addressing some of the current limitations of the field," Beqaj explains.
Outside of his academic pursuits, Beqaj is an avid marathon runner and a volunteer for the Columbia Human Rights Initiative Asylum Clinic. He finds joy in training for marathons and finds it a way to balance his medical training with his personal interests. "Running has always been a way for me to clear my mind and relieve stress," Beqaj says.
During one of his marathons in New York City, Beqaj had a memorable encounter with a duck. "As I was running through Brooklyn, I noticed runners ahead of me abruptly altering their trajectory while looking down," Beqaj recalls. "Lo and behold, there was a duck running along with all the human runners!" The incident added an element of humor and energy to the event and even caught the attention of a well-known NYC Instagram page, which shared a post featuring Beqaj running alongside the duck.
As Beqaj prepares to graduate, he reflects on his time at Columbia and the impact it has had on his personal and professional growth. "These experiences, in addition to the work I and other members of the clinic board performed, have been some of the most meaningful and transformative of my time here in medical school," Beqaj concludes.
Halil Beqaj's journey at Columbia University exemplifies the dedication and passion of a future doctor. Balancing his medical studies with his love for running and his commitment to helping others, Beqaj is poised to make a significant impact in the field of medicine.
To find out more, go to this link: https://news.columbia.edu/news/halil-beqaj-running-marathons-while-training-be-doctor
