Episode 4: Will Zhang

September 11, 2024

INTERVIEW BY PRIYANKA GERA

Edited by Amar Gopal

Photo by Liora Rafailova

Where are you from?

Queens, NY. Middle VIllage. Right next to Rego Park. If they’re from NY, then I tell people I’m from around Astoria. But if they really aren’t familiar with the area, then I say I’m from Flushing because it is more well-known. 

If someone were to visit Middle VIllage, what is one thing they should do?

There is nothing to do there. If you are retired, it’s a nice place to settle down, but you have to travel a bit to get around to where the party’s at. 

Would you retire there?

No. I see myself retiring in a different suburb. But I do want to be in a big city for work. Outside of New York, Miami and California has definitely caught my attention. 

Where did you go to college?

Stony Brook. I majored in Biology. 

Did you take gap years before medical school?

I took 2 years off. I worked as a medical assistant at a dialysis and dermatology clinic. 

Are those influencing what you want to do in the future?

Those jobs did give me exposure to different fields which is super useful, but it’s a totally different story when you have your own patients and practice in that field.. It is important to choose a field you see yourself doing in the long term. Know the bread and butter for the field you choose. I worked at the intersection of medical and cosmetic derm. It was nice, but I thought skin pathology wasn’t very interesting to me. 

Are you going to be the first doctor in the family?

Technically, no. My mother told me that she was an OB/GYN back in Shanghai, but I have always thought that she told me this just to motivate me to get into medical school. [laughs] In New York, she was a nurse at Mount Sinai West and is always telling me stories working on the labor and delivery floor. 

Speaking of family, I heard that you are a twin. 

Where did you hear that from? 

A little bird. [both laugh]

We are fraternal twins. We look nothing alike. We went to high school together and there were people who found out at graduation that we were even siblings. It is not obvious that we are related. 

What is one talent you wish you had?

Probably cooking. I can cook, but I wish I was better. 

So what can you cook? How do you survive these days?

Honestly, I’ve been boy-dinner everything. It is just chicken, rice and broccoli, but I have it for lunch and dinner. I survive on Costco rotisserie chicken. I am allergic to variety. I might have something different for breakfast, but it depends on how much time I have. If I’m rushing, then maybe 2 yogurt cups and a banana. If I’m fancy, then I throw in a bagel. 

Woah [we both said this at the same time]. 

This may sound unhinged, but it is sometimes just a plain bagel. On some days, I add some butter to be fancy. If I can get my hands on a raisin bagel, it’s a good day.

You put butter on raisin bagels though, right?

No! They have their own flavor. They don’t need butter.

🤦‍♀️

 I know. When people hear what I eat, they always ask, “how do you not get bored?” That’s why a talent I wish I had was better cooking. Also, an underrated date night idea is cooking together. I baked pizza one time with someone, and it was like a real-life version of the game “Overcooked.” Everything we sliced was a different size. The oven was smoking at one point. It can be chaotic but in a fun way.

Is there a particular dish you want to learn how to cook?

For me, it’s more about wanting to perfect sauces. Cooking with wine is not something I am comfortable with. Sauces can really elevate a dish; a good sauce can balance out the umami in a steak or fish dish. For example, I make great pasta, but my sauce is a complete mess. Pasta sauce is important.  

Who is your role model?

Dr. Ethan Choi from Chicago Med. There aren’t a lot of Asians on TV, but once I saw this show, you see this rugged, Asian doctor who is smart and capable. He was an ex-marine on the show too. Most other shows don’t portray Asians in a role like that. He is a great character; he has high moral standards and it is how I hope to be as a future physician. 

Speaking of TV shows, do you have a guilty pleasure TV show?

I actually don’t watch a lot of TV shows. 

Says the guy whose role model is a character from a show. 

[both laugh] Let me clarify. I watched Chicago Med through clips on YouTube; I never actually watched the show. But I’ve seen so many clips, I basically saw the show. When it comes to TV shows, I can get addicted pretty quickly so I avoid them. For example, one of my friends had been watching “Grey’s Anatomy,” and I decided to watch the first season in one night. So I’ve cut shows out of my life. 

I have thought about the type of character I’d be if I was on a reality TV show. Would I be the fan favorite or the villain or the pacifist? There is a difference between who I would be on camera and how I actually act. I would want to be the protagonist, always doing the right thing. But if I was on a show like Survivor, I would probably try to get through the show without making too many enemies. 

You’ve really thought that through [both laugh.] Keeping your role model from above in mind, what do you want your legacy to be?

A real challenge in healthcare that I’ve noticed is balancing compassion with professionalism. I don’t think I can be as compassionate as I would like if my focus was being efficient or sticking with guidelines.  At the same time, I wouldn’t consider myself a professional if I didn’t follow protocol. On the show, even Dr. Choi struggles with that but he does the best he can. I just hope in the future I am remembered as someone who tried his best. Dr. Choi really advocates for his patients, putting his best foot forward no matter what, and I hope to do the same. 

How do you define success?

Doing something that you love, but also something you are really good at. 

Is that also how you would define happiness for yourself then?

Not really. Giving back would make me happy. I grew up with a single parent; my dad passed away when I was 9 years old. It was difficult navigating life as a timid Asian boy in a predominantly non–Asian community. Giving back to others in a similar situation as I was growing up, that would make me very happy. 

You don’t give me “timid” vibes; what were you like as a kid? What was it like growing up in that neighborhood?

I was very shy as a kid. Ever since my father passed away, my mom and aunt took care of me, so they could not afford anything going wrong. I was told to keep my head down and not get into trouble. That includes not messing with the wrong crowd. So I just floated through school and didn’t talk much. I didn’t have a strong friend group until college. I was unrecognizable; you would not recognize me if I showed you an old photo. My glow-up happened in medical school. Maybe it’s the hair [both laugh].

Do you believe in fate or free will?

I think some things are fate and others are free will. When you choose to act on an opportunity, it’s free will. But the opportunities themselves that arise are fate. You are acting on the opportunity in a moment of free will. 

Your worst fashion moment?

Fashion has been a big insecurity of mine growing up because we didn’t have enough money. My mom got very sick, she got cancer and my dad passed away. Fashion was not a priority in my house. So tons of bad fashion moments. I can't pick the worst fashion moment, but I remember these super neon clothes I used to wear: oversized neon green or blue shirts. We couldn’t afford the nicer colors and the neon ones were usually the discounted ones. Back then, I was this timid boy wearing neon colors and it was really weird and awkward. Also, ripped jeans were not something I ever got behind because they were a sign of poverty. Now, they are a fashion statement. I can’t get behind the oversized fit either—the baggy jeans that look 2 sizes up and super loose. I am more of a straight jeans type of guy. 

What about skinny jeans?

NO [He sounded offended]. Skinny jeans are up there with my worst fashion moments. I have long legs and it makes them even skinner. The oversized fit brings me back to middle school when I couldn’t afford the right size, but that’s where fashion is headed right now. 

What does self care look like for you?

First, going to the gym. 1-2 hour gym session. We are doing everything at the gym: arms, back, chest, legs. You can find me at the gym from anywhere from 11am to 1am. After that, a long hot shower. Grilling a steak. Doing my skin care. Then browsing YouTube videos or watching a movie.

Give us some skincare tips. 

When I worked at the dermatology clinic, the attending would recommend the same few over the counter products to all the patients. I don’t use sunscreen, but I should. If I did, it would probably be something from SuperGoop. I tried a sample at Sephora and it basically dissolves into your skin. I also use Differin, which is basically watered-down tretinoin for acne prevention. I also use a CeraVe oil cleanser.

What’s a friendship dealbreaker for you?

Someone who makes plans and does not follow through with them. I get it if things come up and they need to cancel, but they should address rescheduling plans. I didn’t realize maintaining friendships took so much effort on both ends until I got to college and my gap years. When we were spread across the country, I really had to go out of my way to catch up with them. So now, if someone couldn’t put in effort to spend time when we lived so close, I’m not going to expect them to stay in touch when we are miles apart post-grad during residency. 

Great answer. Last question is if you have any advice for current M1s.

Really put yourself out there. You have to treat medicine like an internship. It starts when you start medical school. Connections are powerful wherever you go. Don’t be afraid to show people you are interested. Talk to upperclassmen and network. The best teachers are those who’ve been through a similar experience. You can learn a lot from talking to those further along in the journey than you. Medicine is a long road, so asking for help is useful. And when you are a resident or M4, offer help to those younger than you.

Contact Will at wzhang@student.nymc.edu.

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