Mahgoub and Memon recognized for Exceptional Moments in Teaching
Yassir O. Mahgoub, MD, faculty member, and Aatqa Memon, MD, resident, were recognized through the “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program for the month of July.
Dr. Mahgoub is an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at the College of Medicine.
“Dr. Mahgoub emphasized the importance of the patient narrative in a way that helped me realize the significance of becoming skilled in interviewing patients and how understanding the entirety of a patient’s story allows us to become better physicians,” said one student. “He made time for teaching every day and discussed topics that really helped me to understand different aspects of psychiatry. From my experience working with him, I gained a greater appreciation for the field of psychiatry.”
Dr. Mahgoub obtained his medical degree from the University of Khartoum in Sudan and completed his psychiatry residency at Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Center in 2016. He worked at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City, where he served as an inpatient unit director, and returned to Penn State in 2019. In addition to teaching, he primarily practices at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, where he focuses on treating mature adults and patients with complex medical issues and performing electroconvulsive therapy.
Dr. Mahgoub is passionate about medical education and has received several awards for excellence in teaching and education. His clinical interests include mood disorders, catatonia, psychiatric nosology, and descriptive psychopathology.
The resident awardee, Dr. Memon is a second-year resident in the Department of Neurology at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
“Dr. Memon is an inspirational mentor and clinician. She is passionate about her work in neurology and mentoring students. I was excited about her cheery and eager disposition when I first began working with her. I felt that she truly wanted to get to know me so we could work well as a team,” said a student. “She went above and beyond spending extra time with me to explain and mentally map out complicated concepts. Above all, she treated me and other students on the team as colleagues and gave unwavering respect for others. Working with her was memorable and I hope to embody her work ethic and characteristics.”
Dr. Memon was born in Pakistan and immigrated to New Jersey at the age of 7. Medicine became her calling after she began volunteering at her local hospital. Dr. Memon attended Cooper Medical School in Camden, New Jersey where she found a passion for serving underserved communities and becoming a care coordinator for her patients at the free health care clinic, as well as mentoring local high school students.
She is currently interested in neuro-critical care given its high patient complexity, management of the whole patient, and building meaningful relationships with a patient’s loved ones. When she’s not in the hospital, you can find her taking walks with her cat Levi, writing short stories, or practicing archery at a nearby range.
Penn State College of Medicine’s Office for a Respectful Learning Environment recognizes exceptional faculty, residents and fellows with the monthly “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program. Each month, one faculty member and one resident/fellow are highlighted for their contributions. College of Medicine students are invited to submit narratives about faculty members, residents, nurses or any other educators who challenge them and provide an exceptional learning experience using the online nomination form.
The Office for a Respectful Learning Environment fosters an educational community at Penn State College of Medicine in which all learners and educators feel supported, challenged, valued and respected. It serves all learners at the College of Medicine: medical students, graduate students, physician assistant students, residents and fellows.
See previous faculty and resident/fellow honorees here.
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