Dr. Fahad Sheikh’s journey through pathology residency training at Montefiore Einstein has been defined by perseverance and achievement. Last year, he served as chief resident, and in July, he will begin a prestigious oncologic surgical pathology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He was recently honored with the Outstanding House Staff Officer Award, recognizing his exceptional clinical skills, leadership, and collegiality.

But his path to success was anything but easy.  Fahad, the oldest of five children in a middle-class family in Punjab, Pakistan, grew up trapped in silence. As soon as he could speak, he had a severe stutter, making completing a sentence nearly impossible. Bullied by classmates and struggling in school, Fahad felt trapped in a body that wouldn't allow him to communicate and was surrounded by people who didn't understand what he was going through. There were few resources for mental health or speech therapy, and his teachers' well-meaning attempts to push him past his fears only made things worse. His parents felt helpless. When he was five, a traumatic incident at school left him terrified of public speaking.

Yet, as he prepares to move on to the next step in his medical career, Fahad lives a life he never dreamed possible.

"If you had told the boy in Pakistan who couldn't finish a sentence, who was terrified of speaking, that one day he'd be a doctor in New York City, giving presentations, teaching, and winning awards—I wouldn't have believed it," Fahad said of his remarkable journey.

In his nomination letter for the Outstanding House Staff Award, J. Justin Mulvey, MD, PhD, associate director of hematology and assistant professor of pathology at Montefiore Einstein, described Fahad as the ‘consummate resident’—someone who confronted his greatest challenge head-on, displaying tenacity, determination, and an openness to new ideas. Dr. Mulvey noted that while Fahad began residency with a ‘terrible stutter,’ he now delivers flawless presentations and should consider publishing his discoveries. But Fahad is more than just a dedicated physician. "Let me not paint the picture of a nerdy stoic," Dr. Mulvey added. "Fahad is jovial, personable, and incredibly respectful. I've had him over for dinner several times—his goat curry is phenomenal, and he's a ruthless Mario Kart player."

In the below Q&A, Fahad reflects on his childhood struggles, self-reinvention, techniques to overcome stuttering, and his journey to becoming a pathologist at a world-class institution.  Don't miss his recipe for Pakistani Chicken Karahi!

Fahad Sheikh presenting his poster at USCAP 2024

Can you share a childhood experience that was particularly traumatizing?

FS: My earliest painful stuttering memory was in school at age five. My teacher called me in front of a huge assembly to recite a poem I had written. But when I opened my mouth, nothing came out. As hundreds of students watched, I stood there, frozen and helpless for what felt like forever. I could hear them whispering, some laughing.  It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest—like impending doom. I wanted to disappear. Eventually, the teacher led me away, but the damage was done. It was among the many experiences that instilled a fear of speaking. 

When did things begin to take a turn for the better?

FS: I reached a breaking point around 14 or 15. Until then, my stutter left me so anxious I was barely passing in school. I had no friends. I would freeze up and couldn't get any words out. Then something snapped — I'd had enough. I took all my frustration and energy and poured it into studying. By ninth grade, I was the top student and people started seeing me beyond my stutter. I realized that if I could master one thing, I could master others.  But as I forged my identity, my stutter worsened, and my achievements felt hollow. I thought life was unfair and that hard work wouldn't matter. Still, there was one unexpected benefit—no one envied me, and my friendships felt genuine.

What other techniques helped improve your speech?

FS: My most significant breakthrough was realizing I didn't stutter when I was alone. It was psychological—not mechanical. I analyzed my speech patterns to identify triggers and blocks.  My mind randomly labeled certain words as terrifying, triggering anxiety in my body and mind­—it felt like I was falling off a cliff. Fearing a word only made my stutter worse. 

To break the cycle, I experimented with techniques—I broke words into syllables, tapped my fingers for rhythm, and even sang words to regain control. These tricks helped, but real progress came when I pushed myself into scary situations. I started volunteering for public speaking—even though it terrified me. Ironically, trying not to stutter made it worse. I was stuck in the same loop scanning for words to fear.

Describe your path to pathology

I wanted to understand the human mind and try to find a cure for stuttering. I got a scholarship to study neuroscience in Germany, but my parents wanted me to choose medicine, so I stayed in Pakistan. I considered psychiatry—until I realized how much patient interaction it required. The idea of speaking daily with patients who are already in distress felt overwhelming. So, I explored specialties with less direct patient interaction. I discovered pathology in med school and explored it further during a visiting student rotation at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. I loved the beauty of histology slides and the intellectual depth of the field. It felt like the perfect fit. Discovering pathology proved a silver lining in my struggles; I might never have considered it otherwise. But my stutter was at its worst by my final year of med school. I realized pathology still requires significant interaction and refused to let my stutter hold me back. This challenge motivated me to work on myself even more.

What did you do to further improve your speech?

I now see stuttering as a 'whole person' issue. Through extensive self-experimentation, I found meditation to calm my mind and became fascinated by Stoic philosophy, which taught me to master my emotions. In the last few years, I've taken a big leap forward. I credit this shift to 'forced optimism.' Instead of thinking about lousy speech incidents, I started focusing on words I say well. I'm replacing bad stuttering memories with positive speaking experiences, hoping to convince my mind that speaking isn't as scary and difficult as it thinks. I still face challenges: ordering food, greeting someone, or getting stuck on a word. The build-up to a stutter is just as challenging. However, owing to forced optimism, I am never anxious or hopeless. My goal is simple: keep reinforcing this mindset, one conversation at a time. 

Fahad Sheikh, Anam Sheikh, and Dr. J. Justin Mulvey

Describe your experience at Montefiore?

FS: Residency taught me that pathology requires strong communication—tumor boards, lectures, and surgeon interactions. But my mentors saw beyond my stutter. I struggled a lot during my first-year presentation on Zoom, feeling completely exposed. Afterward, I met Dr. Susan Fineberg, a surgical breast pathologist, who said, "Fahad, you are one of the bravest people I know." That one sentence felt like years of therapy. It made me realize that bravery isn't about being perfect— but showing up despite the fear.  Support like this made me realize I was in a safe place to stutter. Without the pressure of perfection, I felt free to be vulnerable and share my feelings. In this non-judgmental environment, I could experiment and fail without fear.

How has your wife, Anam, helped you in your journey?

FS: Anam has been my greatest support. We were best friends in medical school, and from the beginning, she saw me for who I was beyond my speech difficulties. Her optimism reminds me how far I've come. Her love and support are invaluable, especially on tough days. She is also applying for a pathology residency, and I'm excited that we'll share this field.

What role do sports and hobbies play in your life?

FS: Sports help me reset my mind. I love playing tennis and table tennis, and when I'm not working, I enjoy movies and TV shows. But more than anything, I love deep conversations. It's ironic how someone terrified of speaking now enjoys long, meaningful discussions. I also like to cook. (See Fahad's recipe for Pakistani Chicken Karahi).

What's next for you?

FS: After MSKCC, I plan to do another fellowship before becoming an attending pathologist.  I also want to be a mentor and educator. My Montefiore mentors changed my life; I hope to do the same for others. 

What's your advice to others who struggle with speech impediments?

FS: Never let it define you. You are more than your stutter. Most importantly—train your mind to see progress, not failure. That's what saved me.