Health care resources for adolescents and young adults undergoing key brain development are often overlooked, according to Dr. Yawar Ali. That is something he wants to change, with his mission to eventually return to his hometown of Brownsville, Texas, to serve these vulnerable patients.

Yawar Ali, M.D.

What this award means: Serving the Class of 2023 has been one of the most meaningful and enjoyable activities of my UTSW experience. It is an honor to be recognized for serving as co-President of the Class.

Mentor comment: Yawar set a tone of collegiality, partnership, and constructive feedback that allowed us to address any concerns that arose during the difficult challenges that impacted the Class’ education during the pandemic. He also was a strong advocate for student issues systemwide through his role on the UT System Student Advisory Council. His leadership skills and passion for mentoring and service were also displayed through his founding of a pro bono tutoring service matching medical student mentors with middle and high school mentees whose education was disrupted by the pandemic. – Angela Mihalic, M.D., Dean of Medical Students and Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Background and family: My dad has worked as a pediatrician in Brownsville, Texas, for the past 25 years – his example taught me the importance of integrity and empathy. Indeed, witnessing community members excitedly greet him as “Dr. Ali” whenever we would go shopping at the grocery store taught me the impact a physician can have on the lives of his or her patients. My mom has been my biggest supporter throughout medical school; some people may call me a “mama’s boy” for calling her every day, but I like to say that I look to her for support.

What led to your career path: I was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. My city has the singular distinction of being the poorest city in the nation. We have the highest proportion of uninsured patients, and half of our children live in poverty. As these children become adults, they lose the benefits of CHIP and may not qualify for Medicaid. Many of our clinics in Brownsville are not well-equipped to care for young adults who may present with chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, ADHD, intellectual disability, and cerebral palsy. Interacting with my community members and learning about the need for effective primary care led me to pursue a career in medicine. It is my mission to come back home and serve my community.

College: I am grateful to Ms. Cristina Gonzalez-Boles, Ms. Cheryl Janes, and Dr. Richard Scotch for believing in my potential and admitting me to the UT-PACT Program. All three of them supported me as I attended UT Dallas for three years to earn my Bachelor of Arts in biology.

UTSW activities: I worked on a pro bono tutoring program called Learn4Free and conducted ethics workshops for the Pediatrics Clerkship. I also completed research throughout medical school in cardiothoracic surgery.

Ultimate career goal: I hope to build an adolescent and adult medicine clinic next to a local high school. I will try my best to provide holistic care for each patient, and I will work to inspire their sense of ambition whenever they visit my clinic.

Future plans: I am excited to continue my medical training through a residency in internal medicine at Washington University in St. Louis!

About the award: The Leadership Award annually goes to one or more student officers of the graduating class and includes a $1,000 award.