Jump and the Net Will Happen

Palestinian, from Rafah; seeking Professional Post Graduate degree in MS of public health and is enrolled at Johns Hopkins.  

At age 16, I attended a conference in Maryland. I was a teenager with a dream of becoming a doctor. I visited Johns Hopkins University. I told myself that one day, I’d be back—not as a visitor, but as a student. Today, that dream has come full circle. I’ve been admitted to the Johns Hopkins Master of Public Health program.Securing a spot in the top-ranked MPH program in the world has been one of the hardest yet most rewarding milestones I’ve ever achieved.

Coming from a refugee camp in Gaza, I’ve faced more than my fair share of challenges. But no hurdle would make me give up on my education.

I graduated from Cairo University Faculty of Medicine, the top medical school in Egypt and the 2’nd best in the ME.

I experience the gaps in healthcare access in underserved communities. I sought solutions beyond direct patient care focusing on how health systems, technology, and policy could be leveraged to find solutions.

At Transform VC, I explored AI and digital health solutions that can transform patient care. I conducted market research, evaluated health tech startups,& assessed how emerging innovations can improve healthcare equity.

I dedicated 250+ hours at VIP.fund mentoring, onboarding, and coordinating volunteers and students. VIP.fund has shown me just how powerful collective action can be.

Still, securing funding for my education remains a major hurdle. JHU has recognized my potential, and now I’m reaching out for support. Every contribution, no matter
the size, brings me closer to making this dream a reality.

Why Would Donors Fund You?

I am a refugee from Rafah, Gaza. I survived two wars and was trapped under the rubble in 2014.
My good academic standing earned me admission to medical school at Cairo University and I just got accepted into the Public Health graduate program at John Hopkins . The ongoing war killed my dreams, except one: to become a successful doctor. . Your support would be the only reward to my perseverance and resilience.

How Do You Plan to Payback?

I am planning to pursue a career in internal medicine . I want to pursue and advance research in that field both clinically and academically with a view to offering new knowledge and possibly new treatments to patients. I will continue to volunteer with edSeed by helping other students crowd fund to continue their educational journey.

Volunteer Work/Social Capital

I was an exchange student in the U.S in the year 2015-2016. During that year, I volunteered at lakeview hospital for 60 hours. I participated in the International educational week of the U.S department of state. I also participated CECF (civilization exchange and corporation foundation) youth leadership and interfaith conference better understanding for better world. I participated in Utah HOSA for future health professional state conference and competition.

What Have You Done to Improve Yourself? Awards and Achievements

In Egypt, I participated twice in the Cairo university clinical observership program. I did an observership rotation in the general surgery department and one in the psychiatry department. I volunteered for 100 hours with AIESEC Egypt in the Incoming global entrepreneurship section. I also took a medical clinical research course with the well-known Dr. Ahmed Negida and published my first peer-reviewed paper: The potential use of ABO blood group system for risk stratification of COVID-19. I conducted an integrated lecture featuring the helminthes and the colon.