April Student of the Month: Ismihan Uddin, OMS-III

ACOI recognizes osteopathic medical students who are outstanding members of their medical schools and communities with the Student of the Month Recognition Program.

Please join us in congratulating the April winner: Ismihan Uddin, OMS-III, Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Student Doctor Uddin was nominated in recognition of her exceptional leadership, scholarship, and service dedicated to advancing culturally competent internal medicine.

Student Doctor Uddin's many accomplishments include being the founder and board member of Chi-Care Mobile Medical Services, a student-led mobile clinic providing free, longitudinal primary care to underserved communities across Chicago. Through Chi-Care, she delivers and coordinates internal medicine-centered services, including chronic disease screening and management, preventive care, health education, and referral navigation. By meeting patients where they are, Chi-Care exemplifies osteopathic, whole-person care in action.

Her commitment to culturally competent internal medicine extends beyond the United States and has included serving as a medical volunteer with the Red Cross in Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. Participating in health promotion and community outreach efforts serving local and refugee populations deepened her understanding of cross-cultural care, trauma-informed medicine, and the global burden of chronic disease.

Student Doctor Uddin has also made significant scholarly contributions to internal medicine. She is the lead author of the recent preprint “Cultural Determinants of Chronic Disease Management: A Cross-Comparative Medical Review,” which synthesizes evidence from multiple global populations to examine how cultural constructs directly influence chronic disease outcomes. Her dedication to internal medicine is further reflected in her involvement in numerous initiatives promoting primary care, health equity, and medical education, including her role as a Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellow and her leadership in student, advocacy, and research organizations. Across her work, she consistently integrates scientific rigor, cultural humility, and compassionate service.

Through her leadership, scholarship, and service, Ismihan embodies the mission and values of ACOI and represents the future of osteopathic internal medicine.

Meet Ismihan Uddin

What is your hometown?
Algonquin, IL.

What is your educational background?
I am currently a third-year medical student at the Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to that, I received my Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with a Minor in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

What are your hobbies?
In my free time, I enjoy weightlifting, scrapbooking, reading, and creative design!

What are three things people may not know about you?

• I founded a student-run mobile medical van for underserved communities in Chicago.
• I’m ethnically half Bosnian and half Pakistani.
• I love horses & snakes!

How has ACOI helped you in your education so far?
ACOI has strengthened my interest in internal medicine through conferences, mentorship, and research while helping me grow professionally, build meaningful connections, and feel more connected to the osteopathic internal medicine community.

Do you have an idea of what specialty you would like to go into?
I am most interested in pursuing Internal Medicine because of its broad clinical scope, emphasis on continuity of care, and the opportunity to develop meaningful, long-term relationships with patients while managing complex medical conditions.