Not the Doctor I Thought I’d Become: A Journey Toward the Path That Was Truly Mine

Hear about a Ph.D. student’s journey from a seemingly set path toward becoming a medical doctor to an unexpected turn of events that led him to become a doctor of research instead.Sujad Younis is a Ph.D. candidate in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where he studies diabetic foot ulcers and novel therapeutics that may help improve healing outcomes. He is also an alumnus of Nova Southeastern University and is nearing completion of his doctorate.In this talk, Sujad will share how he decided to shift from medical school to pursuing a Ph.D., the choices and struggles involved, and why research ultimately became his true calling. See what inspired his decision to pursue a Ph.D. and the experiences that helped him determine what he wanted to do with his life.He will also discuss his research on diabetic foot ulcers and the immune mechanisms underlying these complex wounds, which affect millions of individuals worldwide. Beyond the science, this talk follows a young scientist striving to make a lasting impact by sharing the beauty of science and communicating it in a way that everyone can understand, appreciate, and become excited about. About the presenter: My name is Sujad, and I am a Ph.D. candidate in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Miami. I am currently a fifth-year graduate student whose work examines the immune landscape of diabetic foot ulcers, specifically analyzing how various T-cell populations contribute to the pathogenicity of the disease and how we can improve healing outcomes for individuals with diabetes. I am the son of immigrants and a first-generation American who has used the sacrifices and hard work of my family’s history to push forward, innovate, and create new opportunities. I grew up in South Florida, with a brief intermission in the Midwest while working at the University of Michigan. My journey to becoming a Ph.D. candidate was not a traditional one. For most of my life, I believed I was going to become a medical doctor. However, as life progressed, research became my true calling. I aim to become a scientific communicator who can bridge the gap between complex, difficult-to-understand ideas and general audiences, allowing others to appreciate science, connect with it, and become excited by it.