Nermine Abdelwahab Pursues Medicine to Make a Difference

Nermine Abdelwahab was born in Egypt, and moved to Minneapolis with her family when she was about seven years old.

“The lack of accessibility that certain groups face; that’s what really inspired me to pursue medicine,” says Abdelwahab.

She chose the University of Minnesota because she felt she would be serving the communities that inspired her to pursue medicine, and it would allow her to stay close to her family.

“During my time at the University of Minnesota, I devoted the majority of my time to the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), because I felt that it closely aligned with my mission of working with underserved communities,” says Abdelwahab.

Her journey has also given her a great appreciation for teaching medicine, and it’s something that she envisions herself playing an active role in down the road.

“I do a lot of mentorship, and I think that’s important because it’s really important to have somebody that you can ask for advice,” she explains.

For Abdelwahab, the main driver behind her completion of medical school was the end result– being able to give back to her community.

“It means that I’ll be able to give back to my community by serving as a physician, which is something that really inspires me,” she says.

When it comes to match day, Abdelwahab is very excited for the future.

“I think we’re all going to be able to make it wherever we attend. I just want to open that letter and be happy and proud of how far I’ve come. It sounds kind of cliche, but it’s the truth,” she says.

She is also extremely grateful for the community she’s built.

“Medical school is a huge group effort and really want to emphasize that there’s no I in this– my successes are due to my family, friends, support system and the University,” says Abdelwahab.