I am currently a junior at Wayne State University majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Public Health. I am on a pre-medicine track aspiring to be a doctor. The role of a physician surpasses the "job" responsibilities, a doctor is a mentor and a role model and I aim to be exactly that to my patients. Patients do not want someone who bombards them with scientific facts and information, but they want someone compassionate that will ease their process through their treatment. I would know, since when I was 15 years old, I underwent heart failure from a viral illness. I was in and out of hospitals for over a year until I thankfully received a heart transplant. Ever since, I have had an unwavering dedication towards the field of medicine and specifically cardiology. There's this Arabic saying that translates to "don't ask a doctor, ask someone who has been through what you have". I pride myself with the fact that I will be able to relate to my patient's discomfort when the time comes. I was able to observe a similar compassion from the doctors that took care of me both in Lebanon, where I got the disease, and in the United States, where I received a heart transplant. Those doctors inspired me to do the same. They revealed to me what true medicine and patient care is, and I intend to implement what I have learned in my future endeavors. I am seeking a higher degree because there is only so much I can learn or do during my undergraduate years. I have always found myself limited to the level of impact a student like me can have right now, and I understand why. I would most likely listen to a doctor's opinion over a student's when it comes to the medical field for example. However, in my case, I was still able to use what I have been through to implement some change in my community. I live in Dearborn, Michigan, and the Arab population there is quite saturated. I realized that there were many misconceptions regarding organ donation among Arabs and Muslims; therefore, I took it upon myself to educate them about the matter. I was invited to speak on our local radio station where I had the opportunity of explaining to the listeners what I have been through and why organ donation is crucial for the well-being of our community. I was surprised to see how little we know about this topic in our community and how little our religious leaders speak about it. Therefore, I am planning on reaching out to our local mosque to discuss the possibility of sharing my experience with the public and explaining to them the do's and don't's when it comes to organ donation among Muslims. Education is a crucial part of Islam and I advocate it continuously amongst my peers. I always encourage others to read and explore new areas of knowledge as I know that this is what Allah would want from us. That is one aspect of being a Muslim that I live by daily. Furthermore, I thank Allah that I have been raised according to Islamic morals and beliefs as they have shaped me to be the person I am today. Being a Muslim to me is the act of giving our wholehearted trust to Allah and follow his righteous path. When I was sick, not once did I complain about my condition as I knew that Allah intends good things from bad situations. I aim to have that same trust as a Muslim doctor.

At the young age of 15, I was diagnosed with acute cardiomyopathy secondary to a viral infection while living in my native country, Lebanon. It was the scariest moment of my life; I feared that it would be the last week that I would live. My symptoms were initially similar to that of a common cold, yet surely enough I began feeling short of breath with minimal exertion. After cardiac imaging, my heart was seen to be enlarged and failing, requiring immediate attention. After a week in the ICU, I was not showing any improvement with whatever treatments I was given. The doctors eventually decided to surgically implant an LVAD (left ventricular assisting device), that would help pump the blood instead of my heart. I was unconscious during the procedure and now recall only vague details of what occurred at that time. When I regained consciousness, the bedside physician described the new machine as my “temporary heart.” As a 15-year-old I had tremendous difficulty coping with the situation; however, I was grateful that I was able to survive. Nonetheless, the LVAD was only a temporary fix and I was in critical need of a new heart. My family and I moved to Dearborn, Michigan to get the appropriate care necessary to receive a heart transplant. Thankfully, after only 2-3 months on the organ recipient waiting list, I finally received the call to get a heart transplant. After 10 long hours, the procedure was done, and I was extremely happy to finally look to my side and not see that LVAD sitting next to me. It took me a few days to realize that I had a heart transplant, and when I did, I experienced a tremendous feeling of relief. My post-transplantation recovery entitled starting immunosuppressants; that I am still taking currently, in addition to multiple biopsies a week to check on the status of rejection of the body to the heart. I had to live in constant worry thinking about the day that my body will decide to kick my heart out of where it does not belong. Luckily enough, I am currently 20 years old, going into my fourth year of recovery after my transplant. I underwent a few health complications along the way secondary to my medications; however , I continued to fight and break through every obstacle. Ever since then, I have experienced significant symptoms, and the results of annual biopsies and monthly laboratory studies have been normal. Three years into my post-transplantation treatment, I have been able to regain a normal lifestyle as a teenager. As a student currently on a pre-medicine pathway, I aim to dedicate my time and effort to serving my community and especially patients who undergo cases similar to mine. I wish to dive deeper into the world of medicine and study the heart religiously to understand my diagnosis further. I have been inspired by the countless physicians I have encountered throughout my treatment, and I aim to join them in my future career. Not only through their professionalism and medical knowledge did I develop the passion for medicine, but also through their compassion and drive for caring for their patients. That is the physician I aspire to be: one you can look up to, and especially one you can entrust with your life and care. With this scholarship money, I will be able to relieve the financial burden of college, and focus on remaining healthy and repay the world for this gift.