Alast Ahmadiiveli

Raised in the Islamic Republic of Iran in the minority Baha’i faith, Alast faced various restrictions throughout her education. After high school she was told by officials that she was not allowed to pursue higher education because of her religion. She left for the U.S., living in Turkey for a year to acquire a visa, then moving in with a distant cousin in El Cajon. She studied at Mesa College, maintaining a 4.0 GPA while working full time, before transferring to UC San Diego. She enjoys singing and playing the Iranian hammered dulcimer, playing chess, and volunteering at Sharp Hospital. With a thirst for science, she says, “I found the meaning of my life in serving people through the power of science, and this is the reason I have chosen medicine as my intended career.”