UAB International Medical Education

We are excited to welcome a new group of International Visiting Medical Students who have begun their hands-on clinical electives here at UAB's world-class hospitals and clinics.

This month, our students join us from:
• Aga Khan University School of Medicine. Pakistan
• Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia
• Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan
• Dubai Medical University, United Arab Emirates
• G.M.E.R.S Medical College, Vadodara, India
• G.M.E.R.S Medical College, Valsad, India
• Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh, India
• Heinrich-Heine University, Germany
• Madras Medical College, Chennai, India
• National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
• The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
• Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Brazil

It is a privilege to have you all here with us, and we look forward to witnessing your growth, contributions, and success during your clinical training at UAB!

🇪🇬 Meet Fares Mohamed Fawzi Eladrousi 🇪🇬

From Mansoura, Egypt to the Clinical Gastroenterology elective at UAB, Fares brings curiosity, ambition, and a strong passion for academic medicine to every step of his journey.

Born in Egypt and raised in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Fares grew up surrounded by a blend of cultures that shaped both his worldview and his approach to medicine. As a first-generation physician, his path into medicine has been especially meaningful. Today, he shares that journey with his younger brother, who is also pursuing medicine, making the experience even more rewarding.

Outside the hospital, Fares is deeply passionate about medical education and mentorship. Having navigated the challenges of the USMLE process himself, he now spends much of his free time mentoring peers and helping guide fellow students through their own board exam journeys.

At UAB, Fares was lucky to experience the high-volume Gastroenterology service filled with complex and fascinating cases. He has especially appreciated the welcoming teaching culture and the willingness of attendings and residents to actively involve students in learning and clinical discussions. Adapting to the pace of a large U.S. academic hospital was initially challenging, but it quickly became one of the most valuable parts of the experience, helping him grow in confidence, clinical reasoning, and patient management.

Looking ahead, Fares plans to pursue an Internal Medicine residency in the United States, followed by fellowship training in either Gastroenterology or Cardiology. His long-term vision is a career in academic medicine that combines patient-centered care, research, and teaching.

Fares, your dedication to mentorship, continuous growth, and compassionate medicine truly reflects the spirit of the IVMS program. We are proud to have you at UAB and excited to see the impact you will make in the future.

🇰🇷 Meet Christopher Shin 🇰🇷

From Seoul, South Korea to the intense environment of the Trauma and Burn ICU at UAB, Christopher brings curiosity, discipline, and a deep appreciation for mentorship and critical care medicine.

Although born in Michigan, Christopher spent most of his life in Korea. His early childhood memories in the United States stayed with him over the years and eventually sparked his interest in pursuing a medical career in the U.S.

Outside medicine, Christopher has a strong passion for the arts. He loves watching films and dramas, especially those built around powerful dialogue and emotional storytelling. He also participates in his school’s drama club, staying actively involved in performance arts.

His favorite comfort food is mac and cheese, a dish that instantly brings him back to childhood memories from his time in the United States. At the same time, he deeply values authentic Korean foods such as gimbap, which keep him connected to home and culture.

Looking ahead, Christopher hopes to pursue Internal Medicine followed by Critical Care Medicine, with a long-term goal of becoming not only a skilled intensivist but also a mentor to future trainees.

During his rotation, Christopher quickly realized how even the smallest clinical decisions can have major consequences for critically ill patients. The experience strengthened both his clinical reasoning and his confidence heading into residency training.

Christopher, your thoughtfulness, discipline, and passion for learning reflect the very best of the IVMS program. We are proud to have you at UAB and excited to see your future in critical care medicine unfold.

Want to make your residency application more competitive and stand out during interviews? Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is rapidly becoming an essential skill across multiple specialties, and hands-on ultrasound training is something many residency programs increasingly value.

We are excited to announce that UAB International Visiting Medical Students will begin offering a Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) course starting with the September 21 – October 18, 2026, elective period.

For additional details, please visit: Introduction to POCUS 2026-2027 https://uab.app.box.com/s/g8pdg8dlqckjyz8p6c2dmtwipnc397z7

Advanced registration is required. Seating is strictly limited and will be filled on a first-registered basis.

To register, please contact [email protected].

🇯🇴 Meet Ihssan Abdalmajeed Alghzawi 🇯🇴

From Irbid, Jordan to the Surgical Pathology elective at UAB, Ihssan brings curiosity, creativity, and a thoughtful approach to medicine and learning.

Growing up in Irbid, Ihssan was surrounded by medicine from an early age. With three older siblings already in medical school, he became familiar with both the challenges and rewards of the profession long before beginning his own journey. Rather than discouraging him, that exposure strengthened his determination and made medicine his dream.

Outside the hospital, Ihssan enjoys the calm and patience that come with caring for bonsai trees and indoor plants. He also loves cooking, baking, spending time with family and friends, and going for walks.

His favorite meal is Makmoura, a traditional Jordanian dish closely associated with Irbid. For him, it represents home, family gatherings, and warm winter meals shared together.

Looking ahead, Ihssan hopes to pursue pathology and academic medicine in the United States, combining strong diagnostic training with research, teaching, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He envisions himself contributing not only to patient care, but also to quality improvement and medical education.

During his time at UAB, Ihssan gained valuable exposure to the workflow of a major academic medical center, from case discussions and diagnostic reasoning to interdisciplinary communication and pathology workflows. He especially appreciated the strong teaching culture and the willingness of faculty and residents to involve students in meaningful learning experiences. Adapting to a new healthcare system initially challenged him, but ultimately strengthened his confidence, communication skills, and professionalism.

Ihssan, your patience, humility, and commitment to growth reflect the spirit of the IVMS program. We’re proud to have you at UAB and excited to see your future in pathology and academic medicine unfold.

We are excited to welcome a new group of International Visiting Medical Students who have begun their hands-on clinical electives here at UAB's world-class hospitals and clinics.

This month, our students join us from:

• Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, India
• Akhtar Saeed Medical & Dental College, Pakistan
• Alfaisal University, Saudi Arabia
• Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College, India
• Catholic University of Brasilia School of Medicine, Brazil
• Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan
• Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil
• G.M.E.R.S Medical College, Sola, Ahmedabad, India
• Government Medical College, Surat, India
• Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
• Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain, Bahrain
• Universitas Pelita Harapan, Indonesia
• University of Ulsan College of Medicine, South Korea

It is a privilege to have you all here with us, and we look forward to witnessing your growth, contributions, and success during your clinical training at UAB!

🇮🇳 Meet Ankush N Sharma 🇮🇳

From Bhayander, India to a Vascular and Interventional Radiology elective at UAB, Ankush brings curiosity, focus, and a strong drive to understand how innovation shapes patient care.

Growing up in a close-knit community on the outskirts of Mumbai, Ankush witnessed firsthand the gaps in healthcare access, an experience that pushed him toward medicine early on. That foundation continues to influence his perspective, keeping his goals grounded in both impact and accessibility.

Outside the hospital, Ankush stays active through swimming, squash, and badminton, using sports not just to recharge, but to sharpen discipline and maintain a competitive edge. He also enjoys cooking, which he describes as a meditative way to reset after long days. And when it comes to comfort food, nothing beats chole bhature with lassi, a meal that always brings a sense of pause, no matter how busy life gets.

Looking ahead, Ankush plans to pursue neurology, with a particular interest in how procedural innovation and imaging intersect to improve neurological outcomes. He envisions a career that blends clinical care, research, and advancing patient-centered technologies.

During his time at UAB, Ankush gained a new perspective on medicine through interventional radiology, where precision matters and decisions have immediate impact. Observing procedures at such a detailed level helped him appreciate how closely imaging, technology, and neuroscience are connected. He valued the openness of the team, with attendings and residents taking time to teach, explain their reasoning, and involve him in the learning process. Adapting to a new system was challenging at first, but ultimately pushed him to grow quickly, both clinically and personally.

Ankush, your curiosity, adaptability, and drive to connect innovation with patient care truly stand out. We’re proud to have you as part of the IVMS program and look forward to seeing your future in neurology take shape.

Act fast as these electives will fill quickly!

Apply here: Start your IVMS application...

https://www.uab.edu/medicine/international/international-programs/international-visiting-medical-students

🇹🇼 Meet Chun-Yu Yueh (Alex) 🇹🇼

From Hsinchu City, Taiwan to a Pediatric Infectious Disease elective at UAB, Alex brings a unique blend of curiosity, discipline, and genuine passion for both medicine and learning.

Growing up in Hsinchu, Taiwan’s Silicon Valley, Alex was surrounded by innovation and technology. While many around him pursued engineering, he chose a different path, following his passion for medicine while still staying connected to technology through biomedical engineering. That balance between science and human care continues to shape how he approaches patient care today.

Outside the hospital, Alex has been dedicated to table tennis since the age of 8, even competing as part of his university’s medical school team. He also enjoys driving and traveling, exploring both cities and rural areas, and has a unique passion for collecting.

Alex’s goal is to become a pediatrician and clinical educator, combining patient care with teaching the next generation. His love for education is already evident, as he actively teaches junior medical students through case-based discussions even during his own training.

During his time at UAB, Alex quickly transitioned from adapting to a new system to actively contributing to patient care. One of the most impactful parts of his experience was working closely with senior faculty, where he observed not only high-level clinical reasoning but also exceptional communication with patients and families, an approach that clearly left a lasting impression.

Alex, your discipline, humility, and commitment to growth truly stand out. We’re proud to have you as part of the IVMS program and excited to see the impact you’ll make in pediatrics and medical education.