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Russell Sage College students Dua Sadiq ’28 and Samira Sefadine ’28 participated in the inaugural ACHIEVE Internship program at Albany Medical College for undergraduate students thinking about medical school or a similar program.
As part of the internship, Sadiq and Sefadine shadowed medical students, faculty, and other professionals over the first week of the medical college’s spring term.
“I saw this as a chance to explore the pathway to medical school as well as to get a feel of the medical field,” said Sefadine, a Biology major. “It felt like a great opportunity to grow academically and personally.”
Their selection for ACHIEVE builds on experiences and guidance they’ve had through Sage’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, sponsored by the New York State Department of Education. CSTEP provides mentoring and academic support, paid internship and research experiences, and prep for standardized exams like the Medical College Admission Test to underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students.
Sadiq and Sefadine both participated in Sage’s CSTEP summer research program. Sadiq’s project examined perceptions of gene-editing technology, while Sefadine’s explored how temperature, outdoor activity, and light-dark rhythms influence children’s growth patterns. They highlighted their CSTEP research on their ACHIEVE applications, which helped demonstrate their academic interest and how they are preparing for advanced study.
They’ve also networked and built relationships with mentors like CSTEP Director Kathleen Smith, who connected them with ACHIEVE, and Biology Professor and Pre-Med Advisor Mary Rea, who, Sefadine said, “encourages me to step outside my comfort zone. … This helped me have the mindset I needed to fully engage in the internship.”
Sadiq is a Health Sciences major who wants to become an oral-maxillofacial surgeon, an interest sparked by her high school chemistry teacher. The information about doctoral applications, entrance exams, and financial aid that was part of ACHIEVE will help her as she researches dental schools and required residency programs. Additionally, she’s been thrilled to explore her career interests in more depth at Sage. “I got to write a paper in a class I took my freshman year about 3D bioprinting teeth,” she said, describing an emerging technology using stem cells to create a natural tooth that is stronger than a porcelain implant.
Sefadine is considering a master’s program for physician assistants or a doctoral program to become a physician or surgeon. She was drawn to medicine during an elementary school presentation about different occupations. While at first she loved the scrubs, a childhood hospitalization revealed a more meaningful aspect of healthcare professions.
“Two nurses helped me through a scary time,” Sefadine said. “Their kindness left a mark.”
Thanks to CSTEP at Russell Sage and ACHIEVE at Albany Medical College, Sadiq and Sefadine agree they are building a better understanding of what graduate medical programs entail, and what pre-med experiences can help them get there. As the spring 2026 semester gets underway, Sefadine is seeking out more internships that will allow her to learn directly from healthcare professionals, and Sadiq is applying to summer research programs and staying active in campus leadership roles with the Denise Taber Finard ’80 Women’s Institute at Russell Sage College and the student social justice club.