Mohsen Zakaib
Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC
Career interests: Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Trauma Surgery
Hobbies: Sports, working out, hiking, scuba diving, studying comparative religion, analyzing the deeper
meanings of movies and shows
Education: Undergraduate: B.S in Nuclear Engineering, Minor, Physics and Anthropology, North Carolina State University
M.S. in Nuclear Engineering, North Carolina State University
Post-Bacc in Pre-medical Sciences, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
B.A. in Islamic Studies, Mishkah University
Enrichment Experiences
Schweitzer Fellowship Program and Summer Enrichment, Fellow
As part of my Brody Enrichment Project and Schweitzer Fellowship, my
colleague Aliyah and I co-founded HealthPals, a dedicated initiative aimed at enhancing medical literacy among refugee populations in Greenville, NC, while also addressing their non-medical needs, such as English language learning. This experience has provided us with the opportunity to engage with a remarkable group of individuals, learning from their challenges and experiences while serving an underserved community. To date, we have organized a free eye clinic in collaboration with the In Her Vision Foundation, conducted workshops on health basics and U.S. insurance, and hosted a park walk and picnic for refugee families. The generous grant from the Brody Foundation has been instrumental in covering costs associated with transporting the mobile eye clinic, providing emergency health kits and water bottles, and supplying back-to-school bags and supplies for children. This project has been made possible through the invaluable support of the Interfaith Refugee Ministry, Islamic Association of Eastern North Carolina, and St.Timothy’s Episcopal Church.
After a successful inaugural year of the program, we have decided to continue this initiative and formed the R.E.A.C.H club at BSOM. In addition, we are honored to be selected for sustainability funding by the NC Schweitzer Fellowship in order to sustain and grow the program. This year, we intend to continue working with refugees to increase their medical literacy while adding more clinics to our yearly roster and centralizing our resources on our website.
Muslim Medical Student Association, Founder
This past year, I had the opportunity to found the Muslim Medical Student
Association (MMSA) at Brody School of Medicine. Our first year was focused on creating spaces for connection, reflection, and learning. We hosted knowledge and reflection circles, community dinners, and events designed to welcome and
support the incoming M1 class. Looking ahead, our goal is to build consistency by hosting at least one community event each month. We are also preparing to publish our Muslim Patient Provider Guide, a practical resource for medical students, physicians, and healthcare staff. The guide will offer insight on caring for Muslim patients with respect to fasting, medication use, halal dietary needs, and other considerations rooted in Islamic rulings, with the aim of improving both cultural sensitivity and clinical care.
Emergency Medicine Interest Group, President
This past year, I had the privilege of serving as President of the Emergency
Medicine Interest Group (EMIG). One of our most impactful initiatives was a large-scale, interprofessional mass casualty simulation that brought together medical, nursing, and PA students. During this event, participants practiced essential emergency skills such as tourniquet application while working collaboratively across disciplines to respond to natural disaster scenarios. In addition, we coordinated EM physician shadowing at football games, offering a unique perspective on event medicine, and hosted a conversation with a recently graduated EM resident to share insights on residency training and career development. Together, these events gave students meaningful opportunities to engage with emergency medicine in both practical and professional settings.
LINC Scholar: Medical Assistant at Premier Health Center
During my tenure as a medical assistant at Premier Health Center, a primary
care and pain management clinic, I acquired essential skills that will be foundational throughout my medical career. I gained experience in triage services, assessing patient conditions, and prioritizing care. Additionally, I developed internal training documents for clinic procedures and protocols, and collaborated with interdisciplinary medical teams to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care. My time at Premier Health Center deeply impacted my understanding of the opioid crisis in rural America, witnessing firsthand the struggles of hardworking individuals seeking treatment for unintended addiction. One of my most cherished memories is witnessing the progress of patients as their pain management therapy advanced, seeing the joy and relief that returned to their lives and those of their families. These experiences have fueled my commitment to serving underserved communities throughout my medical journey.
Youth Specialist and Project Manager at IAR, The Light House Project, and the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem and the Islamic Center of Greenville
One of my most rewarding experiences has been serving as a youth specialist, manager, and mentor for various organizations within my community. At the Light House Project, an initiative founded in honor of Our Three Winners, I served as the youth specialist, where I organized over 100 programs and played a key role in the largest third-party interfaith food drive for the North Carolina Food Bank. Additionally, I founded and developed the RISE initiative at the Islamic Association of Raleigh (IAR), which focuses on creating community and connecting college students and young professionals to the Muslim community. During my time at IAR, I helped launch the largest youth event at the time in North Carolina, attracting over 500 participants, and facilitated one of the largest college Muslim Student Association (MSA) collaboration events in the state. At the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem, I established the Let’s Get Real (LGR) youth program, offering free activities and services to the youth in the community. I intend to continue my involvement in youth initiatives during my medical school years, contributing wherever possible.
Currently, I am a youth leader at the Islamic Center of Greenville where I have been assisting with the Sunday youth program for middle and high schoolers. I am also serving as the Director of Development at the Light House Project, hoping to grow the reach of the organization and form strong partnerships.
Clinical Research
In the summer of 2024, I started a research project focusing on hospital outcomes associated with spinal injuries sustained during aquatic activities. Under the mentorship of Dr. Tumin and Em Long-Mills, I have gained significant insights into the research process, statistical analysis methods, and manuscript editing. We are excited to expand our team by including physicians who can contribute valuable expertise to our research. The Manuscript has been submitted to a journal for review, and we are hoping to get it published soon!
Refugee Medical Mentorship Initiative
○ Along with a group of dedicated premedical candidates, I co-founded the Refugee
Medical Mentorship Initiative. This organization aims to mentor and assist refugees interested in pursuing medical careers. We have developed resources for academic, volunteer, and work opportunities along with one-on-one mentorship with refugee high school and college students.
Upcoming Plans
With the successful completion of Step 1 and now fully immersed in clinical rotations, my focus for the upcoming year is to gain as much hands-on experience as possible across a diverse range of specialties. I am committed to learning not only from residents and attending physicians, but also from nurses, nurse practitioners, PAs, and the many other healthcare professionals who make up the clinical team. I look forward to the publication of my research manuscript and plan to continue my work through the Brody Enrichment and Schweitzer Fellowship Program with the R.E.A.C.H. Club, further expanding the impact of this project within the community. Additionally, I was recently selected to join the NC AHEC Scholars Program, and I am eager to grow through the educational, clinical, and leadership opportunities it offers. Beyond the hospital, I also aim to continue serving as a youth leader in my local community, helping foster growth, connection, and service among the next generation.