Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Lareb Altaf

Born in Pakistan and raised in Northern Virginia, Dr. Lareb Altaf discovered her passion for Emergency Medicine through hands-on experiences as an EMT and critical care technician, drawn to the fast-paced, unpredictable environment where she could make an immediate impact. Her path to medical school wasn’t easy, yet it led her to Trinity School of Medicine, where she thrived in a supportive, close-knit community and gained extensive clinical experience that prepared her for residency. Today, as an Emergency Medicine resident at Bayhealth Medical Center, she continues to combine skill and empathy in caring for patients, reflecting the challenges she has overcome and her continued growth as a physician as she navigates the fast-paced, unpredictable world of emergency medicine.

Where are you from, and what's your academic background? I was born in Pakistan and moved to the United States at four and a half, growing up in Northern Virginia. I earned my undergraduate degree in Biology at George Washington University, with a minor in EMS. I completed EMT training and worked as an emergency department technician, then went on to work as a critical care technician. Through these experiences, I realized that Emergency Medicine was the field I wanted to pursue.

What brought you into medicine? I’ve always been deeply empathetic and drawn to helping others; people naturally come to me when they need support. During undergrad, I spent a lot of time exploring what I wanted to do, even considering paths like journalism. Everything shifted when I shadowed my parents’ primary care physician and realized how engaging and rewarding medicine could be. I enjoyed both the people and the work.

As I went on to work as an EMT, the fast pace and excitement of the field energized me, but I found myself wanting more. I could treat patients and transport them to the hospital, yet I was always curious about what happened next. That curiosity pushed me forward. Working as a tech allowed me to perform procedures, something I discovered I was both skilled at and passionate about. I knew then that I didn’t want a traditional 9-to-5 or an office-based career; I thrived in the chaos and unpredictability.

During medical school, despite my EMS background, I kept an open mind toward other specialties. Over time, I realized continuity of care wasn’t the right fit for me because of how deeply I empathize with patients. Working as an ICU tech during COVID-19 further reinforced this, as I found it difficult not to carry those experiences home with me. For someone who becomes so invested, emergency medicine felt like the best fit. 

Why did you choose Trinity, and what helped you make the decision? I didn’t apply to any U.S. medical schools. During undergrad, my advisor told me I would never become a doctor, and at the time, I was dealing with a lot personally. It’s a complicated story, but I had been engaged at thirteen, married at seventeen, and divorced by twenty-two. Throughout college, I was trying to find a way out of that situation, which was especially difficult coming from a very conservative Pakistani family. As a result, my grades suffered during my junior and senior years, and given my academic record, I chose not to pursue U.S. medical schools.

Around that time, a friend who was attending Trinity reached out and encouraged me to apply, describing it as a supportive environment with small class sizes. On a whim, I emailed the admissions office, even though the deadline had already passed. They interviewed me, quickly reviewed my application, and offered me acceptance. Within two days, I packed up my life and moved to St. Vincent to attend Trinity.

What was the transition like from where you moved from to living on the island and studying abroad? I grew up in Northern Virginia, where my parents lived in a rural town that was still only about 30 minutes from Washington, D.C. Because I was born in Pakistan, my parents sent me back every year, so I was already familiar with what it meant to live outside the United States. That background made the move to St. Vincent for medical school a much easier transition for me. Overall, the adjustment went smoothly, and Trinity did an excellent job of fostering a close, supportive community.

When I arrived on the island, I had missed Welcome Week and landed at night. One of Trinity’s bus drivers picked me up from the airport and dropped me off at my housing complex. I was terrified—my roommate hadn’t arrived yet, and I didn’t know anyone. I messaged the student WhatsApp group, saying that I had just arrived and was feeling scared. Another student responded immediately, telling me she was on her way. She lived upstairs, came down with food, and introduced me one by one to everyone in the complex. To this day, she remains one of my closest friends. So many meaningful friendships and experiences came out of Trinity. 

Did you feel supported throughout your education at Trinity? Absolutely. To be honest, I struggled with exams and the USMLE. Trinity provides strong support, but you still have to put in the time and effort. You can’t expect to make it through without doing the work. When I was having difficulty in classes, my professors took the time to tutor me one-on-one. I had a similar level of support during clinical sciences.

I truly believe the clinical rotations were excellent and played a major role in preparing me for residency. During my anesthesiology rotation, my preceptor taught me how to intubate, perform lumbar punctures, epidurals, and nerve blocks. At one point on an EM audition rotation, I was asked, “Have you done this before?” because I approached procedures confidently and without hesitation. I saw other rotating students who were hesitant and uncomfortable because they hadn’t had those opportunities. I don’t think I would have received that level of hands-on experience anywhere else.

Were you active in any community service organizations? Yes. I served as the coordinator for SMS (Society of Medicine and Surgery) on the island, where we organized workshops on IV placement, intubation, and other hands-on skills, drawing heavily on my EMS background. I was also involved with Kids Companion, now known as Operation: Healing Smiles, where we visited an orphanage and spent time bonding with the children. It was an incredibly meaningful experience, and one I wish I could relive. The kids were truly special.

While in Georgia, I was active in student government and served as the Term 5 representative. 

Do you have any stand-out memories, stories, or experiences regarding your time at Trinity? My favorite memory was going on a catamaran trip with a group of students to celebrate a birthday. It was easily one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. We rented a catamaran and sailed to a private island known for being home to wealthy residents and celebrities. The captain, who had previously worked for them, mentioned he had connections that allowed us to visit. Waking up to the sunrise on a catamaran in the middle of the Caribbean is something I’ll never forget. It was truly wonderful.    

Was Trinity a good choice for you? Yes, Trinity was absolutely the right choice for me. There’s a lot of stigma around Caribbean medical schools, and people often warn against them, but some of the smartest physicians I know are Trinity graduates who are just as capable, if not more so, than peers from U.S. medical schools. I think that stigma is misleading. We’re all capable of succeeding, and that becomes especially clear during the Match.

While you’re in medical school, you may not fully realize it, but once you match, you find yourself standing alongside graduates from some of the most prestigious institutions, and you belong there. I truly believe my medical education was just as strong as theirs. My program consistently tells me that I’m one of their top residents. I may not have been the best test taker, but clinically, I excel. In the end, it doesn’t matter where you started or what challenges you faced to get to Trinity—Trinity gave us an opportunity, and we rose to it.  

Where did you match, and in what specialty? I matched in Emergency Medicine at Bayhealth Medical Center in Dover, Delaware.  

How well do you feel that Trinity prepared you for the Match? My Match process was a bit chaotic, but Trinity played a huge role in helping me through it. I didn’t want to wait another year, and the school worked with me to accelerate my rotations.

I also attended several conferences and residency fairs, including ACEP, an emergency medicine conference, where I connected with residents and program directors who encouraged me by saying, “This is your cycle—you should apply.” That was the first real confirmation that I should move forward. From there, I met with the school administration, and they immediately supported the plan. Even now, Dr. Manahan and Dr. Geisler still send me encouraging messages on social media.

When residency applications opened, I received an interview during the very first week. I remember walking straight into the dean’s office to share the news. None of this would have been possible without the collective support of the entire institution—from finance to the dean’s office to the basic science faculty. Everyone came together to help get me across the finish line.   

How has the transition from medical school to residency been for you? It was definitely a transition. During intern year, imposter syndrome is very real—you finish medical school still feeling like a student, and suddenly everyone is calling you “doctor.” My go-to phrase all year was, “Oh, I’m just an intern.” Clinically, the transition was fairly smooth for me, but mentally it was a significant adjustment. You go from observing attendings to being the one making decisions. I think my experience as an ED tech, combined with the hands-on rotations I had at Trinity, played a major role in helping me succeed during residency.

What has been the most surprising thing about residency so far? My residency program is incredibly supportive, and I feel so grateful to have matched at Bayhealth. Looking back, I didn’t fully realize it at the time, but it truly feels like being part of another family. For instance, I was grabbing coffee today, and an attending ended up tutoring me for four hours to help me prepare for an exam, right before a holiday week. This is the real world, yet everyone here goes above and beyond to support each other. The sense of community and encouragement is truly remarkable.        

What’s a typical day like as an Emergency Medicine Resident? Emergency Medicine is a bit different because most of our rotations are in the emergency department, though we do have off-service rotations. I just finished a month with EMS, which was a fun way to revisit my EMT days, except this time, I was the doctor on the rig. It was a surreal moment, going from the bottom of the totem pole to now being the physician in charge. It’s been an incredible and humbling journey, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

What skills from your time at Trinity have been most useful in residency? Beyond the clinical skills I gained during rotations, my time in SGA, especially during a transition between deans, taught me how to communicate effectively and advocate for students’ needs.

What is the best advice you could share with a prospective Trinity student? Just do it. People will always try to discourage you or tell you it’s not possible, but if medicine is your passion and you have the drive for it, you absolutely can succeed. Many of us have been told we couldn’t make it, and yet we did. The effort you put in is exactly what you’ll get out.

Be honest with yourself about why you’re pursuing medicine. You have to love patient care and have the right motivations, because the journey requires sacrifices. Choose specialties you genuinely want to pursue, and don’t let anyone steer you away. Believe in yourself and just do it.

If you’re interested in learning how Trinity can support your dream of becoming a doctor, we invite you to reach out to our admissions team today! Contact us here.