Complete Story
07/17/2025
Championing Community Health: A Summer Scholar's Journey
Jad Elharake reflects on his summer working at the Noor Community Clinic
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Jad Elharake Internship: Jad is actively engaged with the Noor Community Free Clinic, supporting their mission to provide care for the under-served Muslim community in Columbus and learning about the challenges and rewards of community-based healthcare. |
This summer, OSMA Foundation Summer Scholar Jad Elharake is working with the Noor Community Clinic, a trusted free health resource for underserved Muslim communities in Columbus, Ohio. As a medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Jad is deeply involved in providing care to patients who are uninsured, undocumented, non-English speaking, or otherwise marginalized, while also exploring ways to protect these communities and advocate for health equity at the local and state levels. Jad shared: |
A Commitment to Serving Underserved Communities
“As a future physician committed to serving underserved patient populations, my role as a coordinator at the Noor Community Clinic has provided me with an avenue to channel my passion for social determinants of health. Through this work, I have witnessed firsthand how a patient’s social, economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds directly influence their ability to access and navigate care.”
At Noor, Jad works to build trust and ensure patients feel safe seeking care, especially during a time when many immigrant and Muslim communities face heightened scrutiny and fear.
“Many of the communities we serve at Noor, including those who are uninsured, undocumented, Muslim, or non-English speaking, have been and are currently under major attack from state and federal governments. We have to be very intentional about protecting these communities so that they do not neglect their health out of fear.”
Turning Research into Action
Alongside providing care, Jad is supporting Noor’s research efforts. Current projects include exploring mental health outcomes, diabetes, and in-house lab follow-ups, with plans to expand into women’s health and nutrition.
“We have been conducting a few research projects at Noor, including those focused on mental health outcomes, managing diabetes, and another on our in-house lab follow-ups. Other projects will follow that focus on women’s health and nutrition, and we hope to submit our results for publication soon.”
Through these projects, Jad is helping create a stronger evidence base to advocate for the needs of vulnerable patient populations in Columbus and across central Ohio.
Looking Ahead
“As a future leader in medicine, I plan to incorporate my experiences at Noor in delivering more informed, well-rounded care. I aspire to be a physician who creates a healthcare landscape in which those who are low-income, undocumented, and marginalized are provided with the quality care deserving of any human.”
His dedication embodies the mission of the Summer Scholars Program, nurturing future physicians who lead with compassion, research, and community advocacy.
Support the Next Generation of Physician Leaders
Jad’s commitment to community-centered care and advocacy is exactly the kind of leadership the OSMA Foundation is proud to support. His story reminds us that local action and thoughtful physicians can make a lasting difference for families.
Are you an alum of an Ohio medical school that participates in OSMA’s Summer Scholars Program? When you give, make sure to select your alma mater from the dropdown menu on the donation page so your gift can be counted toward your school’s total. We are challenging all Ohio medical schools to help fund the next class of Summer Scholars and provide more opportunities to students like Jad.
We also accept grants from Donor Advised Funds (DAF). Simply provide your DAF Sponsor with the following:
EIN# is 31-0907287 and organization listed as Ohio Medical Education Foundation • 4400 N High St. Ste. 304 Columbus, OH 43214