The winding educational path of Tawhid Khan has been informed by his passions, experiences and desire to simply make things better for everyone. A future physician who sees the world through an artist’s eyes, his time at UM-Dearborn has taken him from an immigrant student with uncertain English to a community advocate with a goal to empower.

Building Skills and Changing Lanes

Born and raised in Bangladesh, Tawhid attended high school in the U.S. but was still concerned about his command of English when he began at UM-Dearborn. To improve his conversation skills, he began to join student organizations. And though he was an art history major, his interest in health care led him to join health-related organizations, such as serving as blood drive coordinator for the American Red Cross Club and volunteering for hospitals. “That made me realize that health care is my passion,” he said. “So, I changed my major to behavioral and biological science.”

Another factor for pursuing health care as a career was due to both his parents suffering from a chronic illness, and the increasing need to help them navigate the U.S. health care system. “I witnessed how language barriers and a lack of accessible information can prevent families from fully understanding conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and mental health,” Tawhid said. “Being a caretaker has really changed my view of health care.”

Tawhid went on to serve as vice president of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students and was selected for the Student National Medical Association's Global Health Fellowship. This fellowship expanded his understanding of health systems through interdisciplinary case studies and seminars examining social determinants of health, international health systems and culturally responsive care.

Research That’s EmpowerED

As Tawhid worked to balance academics while managing family medical appointments, medications and other responsibilities, it inspired an independent research study where he examined caregiving duties among college students under the guidance of Francine Dolins, associate professor of psychology. “He investigated how to support students with a parent or parents with a chronic, debilitating illness such as diabetes, heart disease stroke, and other long-term illnesses,” Professor Dolins said. “It is clear from Tawhid's choice of research topic, that he is dedicated to helping others in all aspects of his life.”

Tawhid’s greatest effort to date is the result of responding to the health conditions of family members and clinical experiences he’s had as a medical assistant at an urgent care office. EmpowerED, a student-led health initiative, is focused on improving health literacy in immigrant and underserved communities. Initial actions have included visiting local schools to instruct students about nutrition, exercise and other healthy habits, as well as preventive care and ways to reduce stress.

“What matters most to me is building something sustainable that bridges the gap between medical knowledge and everyday understanding,” he said. “This experience taught me that impact does not always start in a hospital. Sometimes it starts in a classroom, a conversation or a community space where someone finally feels informed and empowered.”

Fostering Creativity and Cultural Growth

Not content to just focus on his many academic, leadership and caretaker responsibilities, the former art history major has carved out time to develop his creative passions. This includes his own art brand and Instagram page, where he designs and sells original paintings. “Creativity has always been part of how I process the world,” Tawhid said. “In the future, I hope to use art as a tool for health communication that makes complex medical information accessible and empowering.”

A separate Instagram page documents Tawhid’s travels and is populated by photographs and short videos. This pursuit is driven by a desire to learn from diverse communities and health systems. “Exposure to different cultures strengthens my understanding of global health challenges and reminds me that innovation often begins with listening,” he said.

To Heal the World

As Tawhid works toward his medical degree, his goal is driven by a call to action based on the needs of one world. “My long-term goal is not simply to become a physician,” Tawhid said, “it is to become a physician who builds, innovates and improves systems of care both locally and globally. I want to bridge the gap between medical knowledge and community understanding across cultures and borders.”