Norman C. Nelson IV Memorial Scholarship

I was born and raised in the Central Valley in Bakersfield, CA. I am keenly aware of the healthcare disparities in my community. Members of my community regularly struggle with access to quality medical care. This experience has fueled my determination to become a physician who not only treats patients but advocates for underserved populations. An example of the major medical challenges in Central California is Valley Fever. Valley Fever takes a huge toll on field workers, whose farming efforts are vital to feeding our country. I had the opportunity to research the biomedical and environmental impacts of Valley Fever through the California State University of Bakersfield. I analyzed dust samples from Kern County, tested them for coccidioides immitis fungus, and worked with the Valley Fever Institute to create an ArcGIS mapping profile. This project, which was recognized in National Geographic’s SlingShot Challenge, allowed me to gain a tremendous amount of hands-on research experience while deepening my commitment to addressing regional health concerns. Another experience that strengthened my commitment to medicine was the loss of my brother Isaac. My brother was born with very complicated heart defects. My community does not have specialized pediatric physicians. My brother was born with a hypoplastic right ventricle, levo-transposition of the aorta, and a double inlet left ventricle. One of the critical factors in my brother’s eventual death was the distance from specialized care. His care was managed two hours from my community over a range of mountains. The story of my brother and memories of this experience have shaped my childhood perspective for the need of equitable access to healthcare professions who are trained for acute conditions. I have taken steps to understand and address equitable access to healthcare by interviewing local healthcare professions. I have interviewed Dr. Jasmeet Bains, a family practice physician and California Assemblywoman. Dr. Bains advocates for local healthcare initiatives such as “Grow Our Own” bill. This bill created an endowment fund for a UC medical school extension in Kern County. I also interviewed Dr. Francesca Hoehne and Dr. Olga Meave. Each practice in the San Joaquin Valley. All three women doctors emphasized the critical shortage of qualified healthcare professionals that are invested in the local community. I am determined to contribute to solutions that will ensure that my community has access to much deserved high quality medical care. For me, becoming a doctor is not solely about treating patients. It is also about immersing myself in the community and using my voice to advocate for the underserved. I want to be part of the larger effort to improve medical accessibility. Through my experiences, education and research, I have become single focused in pursing a medical career that will allow me to make a lasting impact in the San Joaquin Valley and improve the lives in our community. The opportunity to attend UC Irvine would allow me to further embark on this journey to become a doctor who can address specific community health needs and improve equitable access to healthcare.

“We’ll do our best.” That’s what the doctors said, but I could see in their eyes that they didn’t fully understand what “doing their best” meant for me. At just fifteen years old, I had already received a heart transplant. During my junior and senior years of high school, I waited—sometimes patiently, often painfully—for my second. While my friends were thinking about prom or college applications, I was wondering if I’d make it to graduation. But through every surgery, every sleepless hospital night, and every lab result, I realized something deeper: I don’t just want to survive—I want to be the doctor who truly sees their patients, not just treats them. My desire to go into the medical field doesn’t come from textbooks or science fairs. It comes from lying in a hospital bed for most of my life, surrounded by amazing people doing their best, but who couldn’t quite understand what it felt like to be me. That absence of connection—of truly being seen—shaped my passion. I want to become a pediatric cardiologist not because this is all I’ve known, but because I want to be the kind of doctor I never had. One who meets patients where they are, not just physically, but emotionally. Too often, I felt like a problem to be solved. Doctors focused on fixing my heart but forgot about my spirit. I wasn't just a heart patient—I was a kid trying to make sense of a life interrupted. I want to change how doctors see children like me. I want to be the one who walks into a hospital room and says, “I understand,” and mean it. I want to show young patients that they’re not just another case—they're humans with hopes, fears, and futures. Children aren't just mini adults. We’re strong, resilient, and often wiser than people think. We didn’t ask for this—didn’t do anything wrong—and yet we give up parts of our childhood to fight battles we never chose. I’ve lived it, and I want to make sure no child ever feels invisible the way I once did. My future patients won’t just have a doctor who reads their charts; they’ll have someone who’s lived in their shoes, who’s fought the same fight, and who believes in treating the whole person—not just the diagnosis. It hasn’t been easy getting here. My chronic illness made it hard to keep up with school, and the last year and a half of waiting for another transplant has tested me in every way—mentally, physically, and emotionally. There were moments I felt like giving up, when homework felt impossible and my future felt uncertain. But I never stopped pushing. I’ve worked incredibly hard throughout high school to become the kind of student who can survive—and thrive—in medicine. I know I’m not the smartest person out there, but what I have is heart, persistence, and deep passion for helping others overcome their struggles. I know how powerful it is to have someone beside you who truly cares, and I want to be that person for someone else. That’s why I’m going into medicine. Not just to help people heal, but to help them feel seen, valued, and understood. To remind them they’re not alone—and that their story, like mine, is still being written.

The Mayo Clinic classifies a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) as a condition where a baby's diaphragm fails to close, leaving a hole in the muscle called a hernia. This condition can cause problems throughout development since the abdominal organs can travel through the hernia -- leading to intestinal malrotation and possibly a cut off blood supply. Furthermore, per John Hopkins Medicine, the presence of these organs in the thoracic cavity limits the lungs ability to develop and mature, leading to complications in aspiration after birth. CDH occurs in about 1 in 3000 births. On October 18, 2011, my baby brother Jayce was born with this condition. In his case, his stomach had moved up into his chest through his hernia. He lived for 37 days, unfortunately passing away on November 25, 2011 -- the day after Thanksgiving. I am Nasir Muhammad, and everyday Jayce is my inspiration to make strides in the medical field. Whenever I lack motivation or ambition, Jayce is my inspiration to persevere as I think about the countless lives I could save in the future through networking with a team of doctors to cure conditions. Unfortunately for Jayce, my family, and I, 2011 was a time when many conditions occurred without any foresight and treatment options; however, it is comforting to know that within those 13 years many doctors have put in the work to find treatments for conditions in all fields of medicine, such as the neonatal field. Personally, my passion is in the neurology field. Learning about the mind and human behavior through AP Psychology and the anatomy and physiology of the brain in my Anatomy class captivated me from day one. This passion led me to start a research project in neuroscience in which I am currently investigating the brain's mesolimbic pathway and its relation to addiction. Furthermore, I am in the process of starting a psychology club at my school since I've learned I can create opportunities for my peers and I -- and make an impact in my community -- starting with an engaging club environment. I believe my interest in the medical field is innate. However, seeing my father grieve the life of his third son, Jayce, and reading the story of Norman C. Nelson IV continues my ambition to become a neurosurgeon and save lives. With this in mind, my current plan is to attend Georgia State University and earn my master's degree in neuroscience; furthermore, I will continue on to Emory School of Medicine and earn my doctorate degree. My ultimate goal is to become a neurosurgeon and with hard-work and dedication I know I will accomplish this. However, I know this path is expensive and as a child from a single-parent household this scholarship will help me fund my ambition. Altogether, Jayce and his potential is my greatest inspiration in life.

I come from a low income mexican household, growing up I was taught to always work hard for the things I want, as things do not just get handed. Both of my parents migrated here to the U.S with only their courage and hope of a better life. I am a first generation college student, in hopes of breaking the generational pattern. Growing up with little resources and limited opportunities, I always found a way through. My mother’s battle with kidney failure has been the catalyst for my passion for nursing. As my mother maneuvered through the challenges of kidney failure, the more I became familiarized and exposed to the health care system. Being able to witness the compassionate care she received from her numerous hospital and dialysis visits built a desire within me to want to pursue a career where I would be able to make a difference in people’s lives. Enrolling in the Nursing Assistant program offered at my high school has become more than an academic option, but a dedication to relieve the suffering of those that are undergoing hardships just as my mother has done so for the past three years.Attending clinicals in a nursing home has allowed me to grasp new skills and enlarge my desire to one day become a nurse. Nursing isn’t only about medical procedures and medications, but about initiating genuine connections with patients and providing comfort at their most vulnerable moments. Acquiring experience through the Nursing Assistant program by going to a nursing home has ignited my interest and passion for nursing which has driven me to take part in multiple volunteer internships at Kaweah Health Hospital. I was able to apply my skills and learning by giving assistance to Nurses and CNAs, as well as aid patients with their needs. Being able to apply my passion for patient care in multiple health care facilities, allows me to apply my belief that every person, like my mother, deserves care that is beyond physical but emotionally and physiologically for their well being. Coming from the central valley where there are small amounts of health care workers, I am inspired to be a change in my community. I want to become a nurse and remain working here in the central valley where the help is needed. I want to create an impact in my community, and help those in need. As well as being the nurse that every patient needs, especially here at the central valley. In further years, I am determined to further my experiences in the healthcare field. To fulfill my desire to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, like the nurses that have made a difference in my mother’s life.