Anjani Raja is a medical student in the Class of 2026 and the lead ambassador/chair of the Warrior M.D. Ambassador board.

With their insider's knowledge about life as a Wayne State medical student, our ambassadors are a great resource for all your questions — whether you want to know about classes or living in the city. They've been there, done that, and are happy to share their experience with you. To learn more about all of our ambassadors, visit med.wayne.edu/admissions/ambassadors

Why did you choose Wayne State University for medical school?

I chose Wayne State University School of Medicine for both the curricular and extracurricular opportunities that this medical school provides. With such a large student body, there are so many diverse students with whom I can study, share resources and make lifetime connections. The curriculum has a focus on gaining clinical experiences very early on through the Clinical Skills sessions to learn and practice interacting with patients. Outside of school there are many free clinics to volunteer at on a weekly basis. Most importantly, Wayne is in the heart of Detroit, a unique urban population that many clubs capitalize on to gain skills working with the diverse patient population here. Through informational sessions, population screenings or treating uninsured patients, many organizations work closely with the people of Detroit - a population that makes Wayne’s medical school excellent at preparing students to be well-rounded and diversely experienced physicians.

What do you do to support your health and wellness?

I love baking, rock climbing, and exploring new restaurants! I think it is especially important to eat good food while in medical school, so I make it a point to bake something every week, and I have a running list of all the Detroit restaurants I have tried. I also like rock climbing to stay active since there are great local climbing gyms here and it's a good way to take my mind off of school.

What was the best part of your first year of medical school?

So far I have loved the opportunities to explore Detroit through medical school. During the first few weeks there were informational and social events at bars and breweries, and recently I have been volunteering at various farmer's markets around the city through student organizations. Wayne State University School of Medicine is unique in that the community service and organizations focus on serving people all throughout Detroit, giving medical students a chance to see what the city has to offer, and offer their own service back to the city.