Please join BMSA in welcoming Dr. Rashida S. Vassell for an open Q&A session where students can gain meaningful insight on how to navigate medical school and prepare for residency as a underrepresented person in medicine.
Dr. Vassell is the Founder and CEO of Safahla Medical PLLC, a physician-led wellness and aesthetics practice in Corning, NY. She earned her MD from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and completed her General Surgery residency at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she served as Chief Resident and completed a certification in Clinical and Translational Science. She is double board-certified in Wound & Hyperbaric Medicine and Anti-Aging Medicine.
Before founding Safahla, Dr. Vassell served as a Medical Director, where she helped develop an award-winning Wound and Hyperbaric program and later contributed to Utilization Management with her expertise in evidence-based clinical guidelines and quality assurance.
Her practice centers on women’s health, weight management, longevity, and holistic wellness—rooted in her own experience as a breast cancer survivor and her commitment to dignified, patient-centered care. She also leads The Safahla Foundation, which expands access to wellness and therapeutic services through community-focused initiatives. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at LECOM Elmira where she helps with the History and Physical Examination and Problem-Based Learning courses.
We look forward to an inspiring session and hope to see you there!