White Coat Profile: Nisha Rehman

The White Coat Ceremony marks the first time a medical student will don his or her white coat, the defining symbol of a physician. The coat bestows a great honor, and with it comes a responsibility to uphold the trust of every patient they will encounter. The Class of 2023 will receive their white coats Friday, July 19, during a ceremony that begins at 3:30 p.m. at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

Meet Nisha Rehman

During Nisha Rehman’s sophomore year of college, she experienced a transformative health journey after being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease.

“Now as I reflect, having conquered the illness, I understand that I was given a valuable opportunity to be a patient, so that I would realize my passion for medicine,” she said. “I experienced the gaps in the health care system firsthand, like failing to address patient's emotions and desires. I realized that I was fortunate to have access to affordable care, while many do not. By helping me recover, my physician gave me my life back, a life filled with potential and opportunity. It was then I knew that I wanted to do the same for other people: empower people through health as a doctor.”

Background

Rehman is originally from Charleston, SC, but moved to Scottsdale during high school.

“The first six months of being in a new place was pretty hard for me and I had trouble adjusting,” Rehman said. “Eventually, I did resettle into my new home, but I never forgot that uncomfortable feeling of being lost and alone in a new place.”

After graduating from Desert Mountain High School, she volunteered in a program where she mentored refugee girls who were in middle school. “I felt a sense of kinship with the refugee girls I met, remembering that feeling of being lost and realized I had experienced only a small fraction of the hardships they faced,” she said.

After high school, she attended Arizona State University to study Biomedical Sciences.

“As a kid, I was always interested in science, being that kid in Science Olympiad,” Rehman said. “As I got older, I continued to explore the field of science, medicine drawing my eye because of its impactful nature, and eventually majored in Biomedical Sciences at Arizona State University.”

Choosing the College of Medicine – Phoenix

“There were two main things that stood out to me about the College of Medicine – Phoenix,” Rehman said. “The first was its culture of inclusive excellence and collaboration. All the students and faculty are excited to be there and willing to work together to advance medicine and humanity. The second was their dedication to serving their community through various community development and volunteer programs. Being a doctor means serving, especially underserved communities. I am excited to explore the different ways I can empower my community such as through the Wesley Community and Health Center.”

Volunteer Experience

In 2016 the refugee crisis came to a peak, and Rehman was determined to help in some way.

“I decided to create a nonprofit named Hands for Henna with a mission to empower refugee youth through education and mentorship,” she said. “We host educational workshops for refugee youth, donate educational material to refugee youth and raise awareness about the refugee crisis. We sustain ourselves by selling henna tattoos, hence the name. Currently, we are working on adding health education programs within our curriculum.”

One day she hopes to open a physical center where refugee youth, and other underserved individuals, can have access to free health exams, educational programs, supplies and support.

“My mantra is the quote by Theodore Roosevelt, ‘Do what you can, with what you have, where you are,’ and we try to uplift refugee youth in any way we can,” she said.

What Does the White Coat Mean to You?

“The white coat means a chance to empower and serve individuals through health,” Rehman said. “Physicians have a significant opportunity to truly make a difference in another person’s life. Through personal experience I can say that the healing and support a doctor provides can positively change their patient’s life. I am here today, able to pursue a career in medicine, because a doctor treated me and I hope to one day pay that forward and give my future patients a chance to chase their dreams.”

To support students like Nisha, please consider making a gift to the Class of 2023 White Coat Campaign.