An eighth-grade health class assignment sparked Bedis Elkamel’s interest in pursuing a career in medicine. “When I came to UCF, I looked at several majors, but I felt like Health Sciences aligned best with my interest in becoming a physician. Although the curriculum prepared me well from a knowledge standpoint, I also benefitted from working with my peers on class projects. Knowing how to interact and work with others is critical in life, especially for anyone focused on a healthcare career,” says Bedis.
Outside the classroom, Bedis has been active in service-oriented student organizations including the Health Awareness and Prevention Society where he served as vice president and worked with fellow students to educate others about public health issues, organize fund raisers, and recruit transplant donors for the Gift of Life. He also served as a volunteer for the Coalition for the Homeless. In fact, this experience led to the development of his undergraduate thesis research project for which he was honored with a CHPS Honors Undergraduate Thesis Scholarship Award.
Reflecting on his time at UCF, Bedis says, “Everything I’ve learned from academics to working with others and the service activities I’ve done has defined me as a person and will certainly benefit me in the future.”
