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YES Alumna Leads Med School Webinar

Hajar Medical Webinar Ad

Our alumni continue to share their skills with their communities well after their YES year! YES alumna Hajar Habbat from Morocco is one of example of such leadership. Earlier in November, Hajar led a webinar on how to apply to medical schools in Morocco, and advice on studying in the medical field. Hajar gave the webinar for the AMIDEAST Leaders, Alumni, and Mentors (ALAM) network at AMIDEAST.

Hajar is currently in her fourth year of her medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine in Rabat. She is particularly interested in studying neuroscience, neurology and interventional radiology. In her own words, Hajar says, “I have always been a science nerd.” Hajar did not make her decision to study medicine lightly. She explains, “Choosing to pursue a medical profession was not an easy decision. I had to take some time to think about the medical situation in Morocco, and most importantly, I had to assess my options in the field. In the end, I chose to equip myself with a strong work ethic and determination to succeed. Now, I am now confident of the choice I made.”

When reflecting on advice to share with potential medical school students, Hajar notes, “Be realistic, especially if you're planning to study medicine in Morocco. It is not like 'Grey's Anatomy.' Medical school requires a lot of hard work and sleepless nights. It is no lie that medicine is a difficult field, so it's important to be physically and mentally ready for obstacles.”

Hajar also attributes her decision to study medicine to her time on the YES program. She shares, “While on the YES program, I noticed the prevalence of mental health awareness in the United States, which is very rare in Moroccan society. This stuck with me as I became interested in studying the scientific aspects of the brain, and later chose a medical path. I gained valuable experience and skills in networking, and I was able to work alongside incredibly talented researchers and doctors in the United States. I think it is safe to say that the YES program helped me get out of my Moroccan comfort zone and allowed me to keep on grabbing new opportunities every day.” 

Hajar Habbat (YES 2014-2015, Morocco, placed with IRIS in Ankeny, IA)

Read more about Hajar’s exemplary alumni leadership here


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