The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV recently honored the class of 2027 during their White Coat Ceremony, a significant milestone that marks the shift from academic learning to clinical practice. For Ryan Jannoud, a member of this incoming class, this transition represents the culmination of a journey he has eagerly anticipated since he began his medical education.
Jannoud expressed his enthusiasm for being back in the clinical setting, stating, “It’s been awesome to transition into the clinical space because it feels like we’re finally getting down to what we come here for. Before I came to school, I was very much involved in a clinical space. I was working in a hospital; I was doing patient care daily, and it’s been great getting back to that.”
Raised in the rural town of Price, Utah, but born in Las Vegas, Jannoud’s path to medicine isn’t a conventional one. It wasn’t until his senior year of high school that he began considering a medical career seriously. During his college years, he explored the field of medicine deeply before realizing it was the right fit for him, particularly through his work as a certified nursing assistant at the University of Utah Hospital.
Reflecting on his past role, Jannoud shared, “It was, still to this day, the hardest job I’ve ever done because you’re doing the thing at the hospital that so many people overlook. You’re helping very, very sick people, and you’re helping them shower. You’re helping them go to the bathroom. You’re changing briefs. You’re doing all of the dirty work that people tend to avoid. I just think that it’s a hard job, but it was very rewarding in that you got to see … even if you were helping with simple activities of daily living, you really could see that people in these conditions just need help, they need support, they need people to be there for them.”
This role allowed Jannoud to witness firsthand how a collaborative care team operates, providing him insight into the vital role physicians play in patient care. “I saw then how I could help in a healthcare setting. And then, it also gave me time to observe how physicians worked and become inspired in the way that good physicians could coordinate a healthcare team,” he explained. This exposure solidified his commitment to pursuing a medical career.
Despite moving from Las Vegas at a young age, Jannoud retained a strong connection to the city due to his family’s presence. He was particularly excited about the establishment of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, formerly known as the UNLV School of Medicine, which reminded him of his grandmother’s frustrations over the quality of healthcare in Las Vegas.
“I had memories as a kid of her frustrations on the quality of care in Las Vegas because she came from California. I just had memories of her talking about the need for medical education or anything that could increase the number of Nevada, and specifically Southern Nevada, dedicated doctors so that people here could get the care they deserved,” Jannoud shared. “I was excited when I heard that they created a med school here, and I think I was excited at maybe being able to help carry out that mission that way back when I was a kid, I remembered hearing my grandma talk about.”
Now, with the opportunity to actively engage with patients, Jannoud is able to contribute to the community his grandmother cared about so deeply. “I’m loving every single day,” he said. “It’s just exciting to wake up and get to interact with patients again. Even if our knowledge is so limited and there’s still so much more for us to learn, it’s fun to get up every day and tackle the day and just say, ‘How can I do one thing better than what I did yesterday?’
As he reflects on his journey, Jannoud offers thoughtful advice to those aspiring to enter medical school. He emphasizes the importance of understanding one’s motivations for pursuing this challenging field. “I think the number one thing that I could say to someone that is aspiring to go to medical school is that the question should never be if you can do it. The question should be, ‘Why do you want to do it?’
Overall, Ryan Jannoud’s story illustrates not only his personal growth and commitment to healthcare but also the broader impact of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine on aspiring medical professionals dedicated to improving patient care in Nevada.
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