Abdelrahman (Bodi) Abdelrazek, a sophomore at Washington State University Pullman, dreams that one day everyone in the world will have equal access to quality healthcare. He knows achieving that dream is a big challenge, but as a bioengineering student on the premed track, he is already making his mark in the medical field and on the WSU campus.
When Abdelrazek arrived at WSU in 2024, he created a new registered student organization called Premed Advisory Program (PAP). The purpose of PAP is to help first and second-year premed students learn important soft skills such as how to get involved on campus, build a community, and practice communication and leadership skills. It is a model program that is being adopted by other universities across the country, and he hopes one day, around the world. He developed a gamified mobile app “Premed Map” that students everywhere can download.
“I noticed there were a lot of resources available for older students, but not much for us younger students,” Abdelrazek said. “Going to medical school is a long and difficult journey and I wanted to help students build essential skills right away so they will be ready for the challenges that lie ahead.”
In September of 2025, PAP organized its second annual conference on the Pullman campus. More than 200 students, faculty, alumni, and community members attended the free event which focused on networking, gaining hands-on training, and a research symposium.
Good health care out of reach
Abdelrazek said his passion for helping people traces back to his childhood in a rural village in Egypt. Some of his fondest memories include the call to prayer echoing across the rooftops at dusk and evenings spent surrounded by family.
Life there also carried painful realities. When someone became seriously ill or injured, access to adequate healthcare was often out of reach. This was the case with his grandfather, who he believes suffered from coronary heart disease. Because the nearest hospitals were far away, he was never properly diagnosed or treated and passed away without the care he needed.
“As a child, I kept asking myself why, is there something that can be done?” Abdelrazek said. “I never wanted to believe the answer was no.”
Opportunities to ‘think big’
When Abdelrazek moved to Pullman, his high school nominated him as a Distinguished Regent Scholar, an award given to just 12 students across the state each year. It brought him to WSU where his journey of becoming a doctor began.
Abdelrazek jumped into his college experience feet first. He was elected as a freshman delegate for the Associated Students of Washington State University, and this year serves as an all-campus senator. He credits his experiences in ASWSU for teaching him how to be a strong advocate and follow through on commitments.
“ASWSU helps give students a platform where they can feel empowered, think big and do big,” said Josue Zuniga, ASWSU’s multicultural coordinator and senate advisor. “We are like a conduit that allows Bodi to develop and share his talents and provided opportunities that helped spark his imagination.”
Last summer, Abdelrazek developed his talents even further at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute’s Summer Research Program. While there he interned in Joseph Wu’s lab where he made quite an impression.
“Bodi was very dedicated and eager to learn the techniques in lab, he asked a lot of thought-provoking questions, and took the initiative to write a research article,” said Wu, the Institute’s director and professor of medicine and radiology at Stanford University. “I believe Bodi will make an impact as a doctor and researcher.”
Be strong, be confident
Now Abdelrazek is focused on sparking the imaginations of others. Last summer, he published a book about his childhood. A Hopeful Rhythm: The Story of a Future Doctor is a deeply personal memoir that reflects upon his journey and the moments that shaped his calling to medicine.
“What I hope people take away from the book is to stay hopeful,” Abdelrazek said. “Even when everything is telling you there is nothing that can be done, it is important to stay strong and be confident in your ability to make positive change.”
