Rachel Safo is Breaking Boundaries

Rachel Safo is breaking boundaries, and proving social standards wrong in the process. As a first-generation Ghanaian-American, Safo hasn’t had the easiest path into healthcare. However, after years of hard work, she has found herself as a medical student with an incredible story to tell. 

A Flashback to Her Past

Although she is from Northern Virginia, Safo’s heritage runs deeper than one may know. Both of her parents were born in Ghana, and over time, Safo has learned how to navigate her cultural identity as well as the pros and cons that come with it. “Growing up immersed in two cultures has been a defining part of my identity, shaping my values and perspectives,” Safo said. Alongside her culture, Safo was raised within a family of various healthcare workers, including her father, a pharmacist. Safo continued, “Medicine was always a part of my world growing up.”

A Defining Moment

At only 11 years old, Safo had to receive an emergency appendectomy, which is the removal of the appendix. “That experience not only gave me a first-hand look into the medical field but also solidified my desire to pursue a career in medicine,” Safo explained. Following in the footsteps of her father and other family members, Safo entered her journey of becoming a medical student.

Cultural Roadblocks and Realizations 

As a non-traditional student and minority in medicine, Safo has faced many challenges. She detailed her lack of mentorship as being the most significant. “My immediate support system wasn’t familiar with the medical school process in the U.S., which meant I had to navigate much of it on my own,” Safo said. “This led to some avoidable mistakes and missed opportunities.”

Continuing through her schooling, Safo had to learn the ropes of a U.S. education mostly by herself. However, as she approached her sophomore year of undergraduate school, she began to recognize the importance of reaching out for help—a vital step in her journey. “Once I started seeking guidance and mentorship, so many doors opened for me,” Safo recalled. Her shift from navigating the process by herself to receiving assistance from others allowed Safo to undergo a valuable teaching moment. She says, “That shift not only made the journey less difficult but also taught the value of leaning on others for support.”

A Message to Other Non-Traditional Students

With her personal experience in the medical industry, Safo explains the importance of understanding yourself— and not allowing others to undermine that. “My advice is to know what works for you and avoid comparing your journey to anyone else’s—it only leads to unnecessary discouragement,” Safo said.

In addition to highlighting the importance of avoiding comparison, Safo also described the need to recognize each experience as a step toward the end of your journey. Originally, Safo took a gap year in school and then completed the Drexel’s Pathway to Medical School Master’s Program. DPMS is a one-year master’s program that allows its candidates a conditional acceptance into Drexel University College of Medicine’s master’s degree. Due to her gap year, Safo initially felt behind her peers. However looking back, she mentions that the decisions that were made were beneficial to her journey. “While I initially felt like I was off track, I’ve realized that without those experiences, I wouldn’t be performing as well as I am now,” Safo concluded.

Advice From A Fellow Student

The three biggest qualities that Safo believes are essential to aspiring medical professionals are resilience, adaptability, and compassion:

Beginning with resilience, Safo says, “This journey to becoming a physician is long and challenging, so resilience is essential. You need to stay determined and push through, even on the tough days when life is 'life-ing.'” 

Next, she details the need for adaptability: “Both the medical field and life itself are incredibly fluid, and being able to pivot and adjust to unexpected circumstances is crucial to navigating this path.” 

And finally, compassion: “Compassion is at the heart of being a healthcare

provider. Patients come to us in their most vulnerable moments, and truly caring for the whole person requires genuine empathy and kindness.”

Persistence is Key

The medical journey is a long and grueling process. Many hours are spent studying, and at times, the journey may even seem impossible. Although she agrees that such advice seems ‘cliche,’ Safo says, “Please don’t give up! I know things may seem impossible right now, but they will get better. I used to roll my eyes at advice like this because it felt so basic, but it’s true.” The time and effort spent is well worth it by the end. Safo continues, “The moment you have your first patient encounter where you realize you’ve made a real impact, everything will feel worth it.”

For a final word of advice, Safo mentions recalling your ‘why?’ She concludes with, “I’d also encourage you to remember your ‘why.’ Why did you choose this career? What impact do you want to make? Keeping that in mind can be a powerful motivator to push through the tough times. You’ve got this—you will make it!”