Nasra Mohamed Shines in Stanford’s Premedical Program

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Santa Clara, CA — Mission College psychology major Nasra Mohamed, a San Jose native, recently completed the highly selective Stanford Summer Community College Premedical Program (SSCCPP) at Stanford Medicine. This six-week, intensive program, which celebrated its 25th anniversary, is organized by the Office of Diversity in Medical Education (ODME) and provides California community college students from diverse backgrounds with a unique path to careers in healthcare.

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Among the 21 students selected for the summer 2024 cohort, Mohamed excelled in a demanding curriculum that included courses in human anatomy, molecular and cellular Biology, and medical school admissions workshops. She also undertook extensive research focused on health disparities, presenting her findings in her project, Disparities in Maternal Mortality and Premature Birth Rates Among Black Women in the United States. Mohamed’s Psychology background from Mission College, she said, gave her a unique perspective in her research and classroom discussions, helping her connect physical health with mental wellness and explore how systemic issues affect minority populations. 

“Psychology has equipped me to understand health disparities, mental processes, and social factors influencing health,” she noted. “It made learning the science classes and research methodologies more intuitive, especially in connecting the dots between physical health, mental wellness, and social factors.”

One of Mohamed’s most transformative experiences came from shadowing physicians in Stanford’s emergency department, which she described as “both surreal and inspiring.” Observing the intensity and teamwork in such a high-pressure environment, she said,

“I felt an intense rush from the fast-paced setting, and witnessing the compassion and skill of the physicians under pressure allowed me to picture myself in their shoes. Rather than feeling intimidated, I felt energized, motivated, and confident that this is where I belong.”

Looking forward, Mohamed hopes to use her experiences to advocate for diverse communities in healthcare. Reflecting on the importance of representation and support, she shared advice for students considering programs like SSCCPP. 

“Embrace every part of the experience and ask questions,” she urged. “Programs like this can reveal if medicine is truly the right path for you. Being surrounded by doctors of color who came from similar backgrounds showed me that I, too, have a place in this field. Make the most of the connections you build—they could be your future colleagues, mentors, or even collaborators.”

Stanford’s ODME is dedicated to increasing diversity in healthcare by providing academic programs that empower future physicians from underrepresented backgrounds. Additional information about SSCCPP and ODME’s mission to promote inclusivity in medical education can be found at Stanford ODME’s website. For details on how ODME supports diverse pathways to healthcare, visit ODME’s website.

Benjamin Demers
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
[email protected]