Public Health resident physician receives national service award
Mehwish Martin, a resident physician in the West Virginia University School of Public Health’s Public Health and General Preventive Medicine Residency program, has been recognized nationally for her volunteer work and contributions to community health nationwide with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation. Dr. Mehwish volunteered her time with the National Youth Organization of Pakistan, which serves the South Asian community in New York.
“My primary duty was to provide counseling on various health-related topics, the COVID-19 virus and guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about multiple diseases and health conditions,” Mehwish said of her time with the National Youth Organization of Pakistan.
Being in love with medicine her whole life, Mehwish got her medical license in Pakistan before moving to the United States. After completing her preliminary year of training in Internal Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai in Elmhurst, N.Y., she pursued her interest in public health and joined the Public Health & Preventive Medicine residency program at WVU.
Mehwish also co-authored research papers during the pandemic that became part of the U.S. Public Health Emergency COVID-19 Initiative. Later, the articles became part of the global literature on the coronavirus disease for the World Health Organization. 
In addition to receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award from U.S. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, she also received two Citations from the New York State Assembly by Assemblymembers Jenifer Rajkumar and Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.
“Volunteering has always been a significant part of my life. Giving back to the community and working with the underserved brings me peace and joy,” Mehwish said. “This experience has boosted my spirit and motivated me to continue this journey.”