Dr. Hadi Rezaei: The Challenger
Class of 2022
Resident: Surgery,
Mayo Clinic,
Minnesota
Even before Dr. Hadi Rezaei went to kindergarten, he was assiduously dissecting a chicken heart with help from his elder sister.
“I think I was always interested in medicine. My elder sister was a family doctor,” says Dr. Rezaei, AUA class of 2022.
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Getting to medical school in Canada wasn’t easy, though, especially given the non-academic requirements. The first year, Rezaei only had volunteer experience; another year he was told he had no research experience; yet another year his lack of publications was brought up. Then one of his research coworkers told him about AUA. Dr. Rezaei got not only admission, but also a scholarship!
Dr. Rezaei found in AUA the spirit of the Japanese idea of ikigai, which involves doing “what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.” He also found his significant other there.
Dr. Rezaei said that while living on an island paradise had its charms, those could distract from the work, which was of a high standard.
Luckily for him, he says, “I was interested in the human body and the science behind it. I also liked working with my hands.” Dr. Rezaei says he was particularly lucky to have a mentor like Dr. Hassan Amiralli, part of the stable of professors at AUA who were famous, accomplished, and yet available.
Dr. Amiralli was the instructor of the small group Dr. Rezaei was part of.
“He was extremely genuine,” Dr. Rezaei says of Dr. Amiralli. “A lot of people are trying to get to a better position. He was best at what he did. He was genuinely trying to make a difference in people’s life. He was always there. He was the person who really cared. First, he was trying to instill some discipline. Later, he was easygoing. It was not about being a better teacher, but a better person.”
Dr. Rezaei, who now is at the Stony Brook University Hospital, says new students have to focus, given the temptations outside school.
“There is a mix of people everywhere,” he says.: There are some people who are serious. Some are there for vacation. Remain focused. I’m not saying don’t go to the beach. But a balance between school and life is important.”
✅ Request information on AUA's MD program TODAY!
YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS BEGINS HERE
✅ Request information on AUA's MD program TODAY!
