The Rising Health Leader is an award given to healthcare student, trainee or early career profession (<5 years in practice) who has exhibited impactful community service, leadership role and dedication to improving education and health in underserved communities.
2021 Honoree
Alan Amedi
Medical Student
Emory University School of Medicine
KAMA Student Executive Vice President
Medical Student
Emory University School of Medicine
KAMA Student Executive Vice President
My name is Alan Amedi and I am currently an M2 at Emory School of Medicine. My parents came to the United States as refugees from Kurdistan, and five months after they arrived, I was born. As an American-born Kurd, I have been privileged to receive a robust education, untarnished by corrupt government and constant conflict. I knew I could leverage this foundation to pursue medicine as an avenue to help my people.
In 2019, I found that way to help when I joined KAMA. I am currently an executive vice president in the organization. My role involves marketing and social media management along with editing and publishing public health campaigns.
I am very passionate about the heart and educating about preventable diseases like hypertension. In the future, I hope to work in the cardiac field and use my clinical experience to better understand how to tackle common problems from a preventative perspective. In addition preventative work, I hope to continue my work in the lab to refine and improve the current gold-standard methods of treatment.
In 2019, I found that way to help when I joined KAMA. I am currently an executive vice president in the organization. My role involves marketing and social media management along with editing and publishing public health campaigns.
I am very passionate about the heart and educating about preventable diseases like hypertension. In the future, I hope to work in the cardiac field and use my clinical experience to better understand how to tackle common problems from a preventative perspective. In addition preventative work, I hope to continue my work in the lab to refine and improve the current gold-standard methods of treatment.
2020 Honoree
Shivan Berwari
Medical Student
Quillen College of Medicine - East Tennessee State University
KAMSA Co-President
Medical Student
Quillen College of Medicine - East Tennessee State University
KAMSA Co-President
My parents were refugees;I grew up in Kurdistan and immigrated to the United States. In America I sought to care for my community by becoming a doctor. Despite limited resources and fewer role models, I matriculated into medical school while focusing on service with the Red Cross, instructing my fellow college students, volunteering, translating for refugees, and much more. Since starting medical school, I've had the privilege of being involved in KAMA: leading the student arm of the organization, mentoring undergraduate and medical students younger than me, leading the efforts for public service campaigns, and always empowering my kurdish community to follow by example. I plan on completing my medical education and applying to an Emergency Medicine residency program in my home state of Tennessee. I want to practice medicine to serve my patients, my family, my community, and the world’s destitute areas like my homeland.