Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2023 graduates.
Asim Othman, a graduate of the College of Health Solutions, comes from a family of doctors, and knew he wanted to be involved in medicine.
Asim Othman, who earned his bachelor’s degree in medical studies from the College of Health Solutions, is the recipient of the Moore Award. The award is given only to those who graduate from ASU with a 4.0 GPA and meet other criteria.
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From a young age, this seemed to be his destiny.
“Medicine is something that runs in my family,” Othman said. “A lot of my family members are doctors, so I was in this field at a very young age.”
Othman, who earned a bachelor’s degree in medical studies, was born in Saudi Arabia but grew up in Atlanta. His family is from Sudan.
Osman is also a Moore Award winner. The award is given only to those who graduate from ASU with a 4.0 GPA and meet other criteria. To To qualify, graduating students are required to complete all of their courses at ASU during eight consecutive fall and spring semesters with no transfer credits.
The award is a great honor for Othman for his supportive system at the University of Applied Sciences and the professors surrounding him. He also said the award is a tribute to his family.
Othman plans to start studying medicine after taking a gap year. During that gap year he will work on building his resume.
“In that gap year, we hope to do research, volunteer and write,” Othman said. “I hope to start EMT training.”
Othman is also studying for the MCAT, the difficult test required for admission to medical school.
What interested Othman while in the medical studies program was the part about the macroeconomics of medicine, the costs involved in healthcare systems, and the analysis of medical standards in developing countries.
“Pharmaceutical companies are raising (costs),” Othman said. “I was researching cancer treatments, and a lot of immunotherapies were very expensive, and it was encouraging that they were so expensive.”
This is something Othman is keen to change.
Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
Answer: I love science. I loved taking science classes in high school. This is what led me down this path.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
a: During the pandemic, high school kind of stopped, so I decided to come to ASU because I have family here, and I thought medical studies was a really great program.
Q: What is something you learned while at ASU—in the classroom or otherwise—that surprised you or changed your perspective?
a: I would say that the experience itself is what you make of it. Because it is such a broad university, I feel it has enabled me to not feel ashamed to aspire to certain experiences.
Q: Who is the professor who taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
a: doctor. Ian Gould. He said something really profound, it’s like something I’m taking now with the MCAT. He said it’s like riding a bike, you wouldn’t read the theory about riding a bike. You can just ride your bike to practice.
Q: What is your best advice for those still in school?
a: I would definitely say take risks, and I recommend people really apply themselves to whatever field they want. Especially in medicine. You can’t puzzle it out in theory. I think that even through shadowing, through writing, through all of these experiences, what they’re really doing is fostering this passion for things.
Q: What is your favorite place on campus, whether to study, meet friends, or just think about life?
a: I was mostly studying in my room, and I think up until this semester I was going back and forth between (classes) and the MCAT, so I would be spending a lot of time in my room. My favorite place to study is the Nobel Library, upstairs in the silent study room.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
a: I have to apply for medical school in May. So, that’s why I took the MCAT, basically to prepare for the application.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you solve?
a: One of the things that comes to my mind personally being from Sudan, one of the problems that I will definitely solve is funding (to help people in Sudan). Right now, they’re going through a bit of a civil crisis.
Written by Aidan Hansen, Communications Assistant, College of Health Solutions.
The College of Health Solutions graduate is a driven and ambitious individual with a clear goal in mind – to attend medical school. With a passion for helping others and a strong background in health sciences, this graduate has set his sights on furthering his education and pursuing a career in medicine. Through his dedication to academic excellence and hands-on experience in the field, he is well-prepared to take on the rigorous demands of medical school and make a positive impact in the healthcare industry. With a strong foundation from the College of Health Solutions, this graduate is ready to embark on the next stage of his journey towards becoming a medical professional.