Experiencing Interruptions?

History of Present Illness

A first year medical student’s stress and anxiety begin to take physical form as she navigates her first year of medical school

  • Phillip Anjum
    Director
  • Phillip Anjum
    Writer
  • Ajiri Ovuworie
    Producer
  • Adam Dombeck
    Producer
  • Saarah Anjum
    Producer
  • Caitlin Wilson
    Key Cast
    "Alani"
  • Stephen Manos
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Mose"
  • Ajiri Ovuworie
    Key Cast
    "Gabby"
  • Capton Siluvairajan
    Key Cast
    "Creature"
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    horror, drama, thriller, psychological
  • Runtime:
    9 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 13, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes
Director Biography - Phillip Anjum

Phillip Luis Anjum is a writer, medical student, and filmmaker who studied film and biochemistry at the University of Michigan. He currently studies medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. In addition to studying for exams, he enjoys making films about sciences and medicine.

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Director Statement

History of Present Illness portrays the initial, daunting, years of medical school from a medical student’s perspective. Inspired by my own conversations with classmates and meeting with advisors. I wanted more than anything to capture the way stress and anxiety compound the profound sensation of isolation that medical students feel on a daily basis. Medical school advisors, dealing with their own personal troubles, are often powerless to help students confront our unique issues. At the end of the day, medical students are expected to somehow push through and continue studying, because as we are told, “it only gets harder.”