A Prehealth Student’s Transformative Semester Away at NYU Abu Dhabi

From NYC to Abu Dhabi

Saif and his cohort of Presidential Honors Scholars in the College of Arts and Science traveled to Abu Dhabi for a week during the winter break of his sophomore year. Together, they visited labs on campus, learned about the country, and gained exposure to research initiatives. The experience showed Saif the many resources available for prehealth students at NYU Abu Dhabi and cemented his decision to spend the following semester there. In addition, although born and raised in New York City, Saif is of Yemeni descent, and he appreciated the opportunity to study in an Arab country. “I felt like this was my way to connect back with my Arabic heritage and culture,” he shares.

As an aspiring physician who aims to blend cultural insights with AI-driven care, Saif was eager to explore Abu Dhabi’s technologically advanced health-care system. “The UAE is very involved in AI,” he says. “I thought it could be really cool to see how they’re utilizing it and if there are any dangers or ethical things that might raise issues.” 

Through the NYU Abu Dhabi prehealth seminar, a competitive program that provides professional MCAT preparation and an introduction to medical care in Abu Dhabi, Saif was immersed in the country’s health-care system. “We met with someone in the health-care field every week,” he describes. “We went on trips to different organizations, like Mayo Clinic and M42.”

Embracing Opportunity at M42

While visiting M42, Saif met the company’s vice president of clinical education Alex Gleason, whom he approached about the possibility of an internship. Gleason agreed to take Saif under his wing throughout the spring. Two days and a handful of emails later, Saif was officially an M42 intern. “It was a great professional connection,” he says. 

Saif spent much of his internship shadowing Gleason. “I was learning absolutely everything,” he describes. He used the time to soak up knowledge from meetings, presentations, and Gleason’s mentorship. Saif also helped M42 develop partnerships with colleges looking to use AI as an educational tool. “This opportunity let me contribute to meaningful advances in personalized medicine while learning from leading experts in AI-driven health care,” Saif says. “I can’t wait to bring these experiences into my journey toward a career in medicine.”

A New Perspective on College

The fall semester of Saif’s sophomore year was his hardest academically. “I kind of let it swamp over myself,” he admits. So when he got to Abu Dhabi that spring and saw his peers taking trips, enjoying themselves, and embracing new experiences, it offered a new perspective he hadn’t considered before. 

“Once I went abroad, I met students who wanted to have fun and experience new things,” Saif shares. “I realized that a big part of going abroad is [choosing] to enjoy your time, have fun, and make friends.”

Returning to NYC as a junior, Saif took this lesson with him. “I told myself: I’m gonna make sure I enjoy my time,” he says. “It was a big turning point.” He recommitted himself to his favorite extracurriculars and even cofounded the Yemeni Students Association, on top of his membership in the Muslim Students Association, the Arabic Students Association, and the Academic Achievement Program (which, Saif assures, is more fun than its name might suggest!).

To new and incoming NYU students, especially those on the prehealth track, Saif offers this wisdom, earned from his semester away: “Make sure that at least once every week, you set something up that forces you to have fun. You don’t want to look back on this time and realize you missed out on some of the most core, best memories of your life because you spent all of your time studying. Enjoy your journey.”