COM Outlook Winter 2021

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 37 student body at the HPD,” Ali explained. “Whether you’re in medical school, or in other colleges at the HPD, learning to create your own opportunities, while also empowering others, is an import- ant skill. The entrepreneurial spirit is not grounded in product development, Silicon Valley, and Forbes —it is in the fabric of every part of life. After all, at the end of the day, we are trying to make something greater from what was lesser. We are all dream chasing to some extent.” From Idea to Implementation Because Ali was determined to seek out unique experiences that could enhance his perspective outside of medicine, the idea for what would later become EIH was already in his mind when he entered the KPCOM. Ali’s time at the Cleveland Clinic Florida (CCF) in Weston, where he worked for several years, provided him with mentorship opportunities, as well as a humbling experience that comes with being surrounded by many medical leaders and their styles, which would later become a part of EIH. “What I took away from my time at the CCF was that being able to form connections with people, as well as genuine and authentic relationships, was key to creating not only an opportunity for yourself, but more importantly, for leading a fulfilled and happy life,” Ali said. It was those meaningful connections Ali made during his first year at the KPCOM that gave him the motivation to make EIH happen. Motivation from his second-year peers Ryan Nash and Joshua Stephens, as well as the rest of his supporters known as the KPCOM Dream Team by Ali, led to filing EIH to become an HPD-wide interest group that catered to all health professions in October 2019. Brainstorming sessions challenged the board to take a creative approach to cater to students in various HPD colleges. Ali consulted with CCF physicians who had influenced him, such as Wael Barsoum, M.D., previous CEO of the clinic, and Joseph Ianotti, M.D., current CEO. Additionally, EIH board members networked with Alejandro Badia, M.D.—one of the top upper-limb surgeons in the United States. “Through these channels, we have created space for all health Top, from left: Alejandro Badia with second-year students Aashni Bukhan and Omar Cardona after observing an orthopedic surgical procedure at the Ambulatory Surgery Center in Doral, Florida. Above: After observing an orthopedic surgery, Badia (in glasses) poses with (back row from left) third-year student Mark Abramowitz; Juan Carlos Sanchez, Badia’s past hand surgery fellow and currently the chief of hand surgery at Hospital Ramón y Cajal in Madrid, Spain; (front row from left) second-year students Nui Gonzales and Virginia Fernandez; and Kate (unmasked), Badia’s PA/first assist in the OR.