By Andres Faza, University Communications and Marketing
It has become standard for members of Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed鈥檚 family to graduate college when most students their age graduate high school. A resident in the , Mohamed earned dual undergraduate degrees in biomedical sciences and political science to become, at the time, USF鈥檚 youngest graduate at age 18. Two of Mohamed鈥檚 brothers also graduated from USF at 18 and the third earned his diploma at 17.
鈥淢y mother graduated from USF as well and is herself a physician,鈥� Mohamed said. 鈥淲e all went to USF, we鈥檙e a USF family, and I am green and gold, 鈥楪o Bulls,鈥� all the way.鈥�
Following his undergraduate accomplishments, Mohamed, who was born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in the United States, continued to pursue his interests at the intersection of medicine and law.
鈥淚 was able to find the pre-med track and the pre-law track, and USF, together with Stetson University, helped me do the MD/JD program for the first time here, where I discovered my passion for innovation,鈥� Mohamed said.
Mohamed is in his second year in the Interventional Integrated Radiology Residency Program and continues to practice law at Carlton Fields law firm. When asked whether he prefers medicine to law, Mohamed鈥檚 answer reinforces what his educational path has illustrated from the start: There isn鈥檛 any need to choose. The two fields can be combined for the benefit of both.
鈥淟ong term, I see myself practicing medicine. I really want to continue that direct patient impact,鈥� Mohamed said. 鈥淚 also hope to continue practicing intellectual property law. I think there鈥檚 a lot of room to work with the legal system and help bring these advances to the bedside, to medicine and to health care.鈥�
He says USF was 鈥渁lways the goal,鈥� thanks to its culture of innovation.
鈥淭he atmosphere at USF is highly encouraging. If you have a new idea or want to try something out, it鈥檚 always, 鈥楲et鈥檚 explore that. How can we help?鈥� From peers to professors, it鈥檚 a very stimulating environment.鈥�