Yezan Hassan
Yezan came to Creighton because he wanted a faith- and human-centered community in which to learn medicine. He says that’s exactly what he found.
Yezan Hassan was born in Damascus to Iraqi parents — his mother a refugee and his father leaving after being targeted for opposing Saddam Hussein. He came to the United States when he was two years old and attended the University of Arizona.
Now studying at Creighton, Yezan is one of 12 members of the inaugural class of Arrupe Global Scholars, a program that educates and mentors medical students for careers in global health and health equity. Upon completion, the five-year program awards both Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health degrees.
Creighton School of Medicine, located on campuses in Omaha and Phoenix, strives to create a better, healthier world through healthcare professionals in service to others
What brought you to Creighton?
- I knew that I wanted to end up in a faith- and human-centered community for my medical education. Ultimately, there was no better choice for me among my options than Creighton because of the culture fostered by the program, opportunities in Phoenix and ability to participate in the Arrupe Global Scholars program.
What made you want to get into medicine?
- My love of people. I see medicine as more than a field or career, but instead a philosophy and a way of life. Being able to apply my intellectual strengths in the best way possible – the enrichment of the human experience – is the greatest gift.
How did you find out about the Arrupe Global Scholars program?
- As I was applying to medical school, I heard about the program from other students. I immediately knew that I wanted to apply. It is the biggest reason that I found myself coming to Creighton.
What has your experience been like so far?
- The Arrupe Global Scholars program is a one-of-a-kind. You take a Jesuit-driven institution like Creighton University and bring together the leadership of our program director, Dr. Jason Beste, and you find yourself seeing the entire world in new eyes starting with the communities in which we live.
An Arrupe Global Scholar sees the world of medicine for what it is and commits to make the changes it so desperately needs.
Can you tell us what you did during your two-week orientation in the Dominican Republic?
- We were exposed to the multilayered nature of medicine. We learned about Haitian-Dominican relations, attended a panel with a Haitian human rights lawyer and four Haitian physicians, and we visited a farm where Haitian workers prepared harvested bananas. We ended the day by reflecting on what we saw and experienced, and we discussed how intimately connected the various aspects of our social fabric are with medicine.
What are your plans after graduation?
- I am interested in pursuing a career that hybridizes the training of a general surgeon and emergency medicine doctor. Although this role may not currently exist, I imagine this being an opportunity to revolutionize the hospital care industry to allow for quicker and more immediate level of surgical care for individuals that live in more marginalized or rural areas.
I also want to work in a political role that will offer me the tools to influence public policy that impacts healthcare and education.
