Collaborated with Public Health Experts from distinguished organizations like the WHO, UNICEF, and the NIH.

Diagnosed a real patient from the Nagari Medical Clinic & Maternity Ward in Bauchi State, Nigeria.

Developed a public health campaign for communities in Sub-Saharan Africa for implementation in 2021.

Zaynab Sayeda

John Fraser Secondary School

Class of 2023

Zaynab Sayeda is a rising senior at John Fraser Secondary School in Ontario, Canada. Zaynab is a passionate student who is enrolled in Advanced Placement courses and is very dedicated to her community.

Zaynab likes to paint and garden. She runs a business focusing on her artwork. At school, she is one of the Vice Presidents of her school's MSA and is also a dedicated member of the HOSA Canada team. During her free time, Zaynab likes to paint, read, or go on hikes.

Zaynab is extremely excited to be participating in the Advanced Medical and Public Health Internship this summer. She loves learning about medicine and hopes to someday be an obstetrician and leader in women's health. In the future, Zaynab wants to take the skills she has learned and apply them to help people all around the world in order for them to have access to good healthcare and awareness regarding issues surrounding healthcare, public health and women's health.

My Medical Training

My Medical Training

In Partnership With The Nagari Medical Clinic & Maternity Ward In Bauchi State, Nigeria

The Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship diagnosis is the first-ever program of its kind. I not only got to work with top medical professionals from around the world, but also save lives.

Through Zoom, I was connected with a clinic and maternity ward in Bauchi State, Nigeria where I was able to interact with my patients in real-time. Using the doctor in Nigeria as an extension of myself, I examined & diagnosed my patient using my diagnostic training on the top 4 leading causes of death in Nigeria; malaria, typhoid fever, nutritional anemia, & acute respiratory infections (ARI).

These patients were not actors. They were locals from Bauchi State that were all ill and would normally not be able to afford medical treatment as they earn $1.25 a day or less. In return for working with our participants, all of their treatments were funded by Leadership Initiatives.

In 2021, Leadership Initiatives was able to fund the treatment of 26 patients.

My Diagnosis

My Patient's

Diagnosis

Rukaiya Ibrahim is a 14-year-old girl who lives with her parents in a community called Zango in Bauchi State, Nigeria. She spends most of her time at school, where she is in her final year of junior high. Her diet consists of minimal protein and iron-rich food. Her entire family sleeps with mosquito-proof netting. She has recently been too tired to keep up with her family and work.

Upon taking my patient's history, I found that Rukaiya presented with symptoms of fever, headache, and abdominal pain. I requested a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) which came back positive allowing me to diagnose the patient with malaria. I prescribed Rukaiya Artemether-Lumefantrine, which is an anti-malarial tablet and advised her to wear long sleeves, pants and to sleep using an insecticide-treated mosquito net to prevent catching malaria again.

Rukaiya was ultimately diagnosed with malaria. She was placed on antimalarial drugs and advised to wear protective clothing along with using a treated net for further prevention.

Leadership Initiatives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to creating future leaders across the globe through experiential learning.

At the conclusion of the internship, I presented my research proposal to a panel of judges including top executives from HOSA, the Leadership Initiatives Grant Committee, and top public health experts.

In the Advanced Medical & Public Health Internship, I worked directly with development and public health experts to create an educational public health campaign. This campaign will target underserved communities in Nigeria and will be published and widely distributed in the area to increase awareness.

My Public Health Campaign Presentation

I learned about four of the most pertinent diseases in the developing world from medical professionals including Dr. Aisha Garba, medical doctor and public health expert in Nigeria.

I developed cultural competencies and a global perspective to assess the structural and social determinants of health that underlie these diseases.

I had the unique opportunity to learn about and practice patient examination, evaluation, and diagnosis skills which contributed to the expansion of my preparedness for a future in the medical field.

As a group, we explored the historical, ethical, and cultural implications as well as the medical terminology and procedures pertaining to each of the 4 diseases.

I now have the skills to recognize, diagnose, and recommend both treatment and prevention methods for each of the four diseases.

I gained a better understanding of the signs and symptoms correlated with different stages and severities of Malaria, Typhoid Fever, Acute Respiratory Infection, and Nutritional Anemia.

My Public Health Campaign