Mahmoud Hatab

PROFILE: Mahmoud Hatab’s journey to medical school didn’t start in a classroom at the community college in suburban Minneapolis where he came to study from his native Lebanon. No, the journey began back in Beirut where he witnessed people suffering and in need of doctors and medical care, much of it was a direct result of warfare. That’s where Mahmoud’s career ambitions were “fired up.” His journey will end within the next decade when he becomes a physician. At Normandale Community College, Mahmoud has been a star, both in and out of the classroom. While maintaining a near perfect GPA, the young man volunteered at local hospitals and for national charities as well. As a peer tutor to students having trouble with chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics classes, he exhibited a disarming humor as well as compassion, understanding, guidance and most importantly, patience. 

INSPIRATION: Mahmoud’s family, his parents and two siblings, have all sacrificed so he could come to America to study to become a doctor. “One of my highest goals is to make my parents proud of the son they have raised.” 

ASPIRATION: After his undergraduate days are behind him, Mahmoud hopes to become a doctor.  

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:   The achievement that Mahmoud is most proud of is creating an on-campus service club that brought together students from different majors and fields of study to work together. “An event that I planned out and successfully put into action was a fundraiser and awareness campaign for Haiti where we were able to get the entire Normandale Community College campus involved in a good cause.”

ACCOLADES: Mahmoud is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and received the Student Leadership Award at Normandale. In addition, Normandale presented Mahmoud its Excellence in Physics Award and Excellence, Organic Chemistry Award, and was also named a 2010 Academic All-USA Gold Scholar.

INTERESTING FACT: Between studying and all of the extracurricular and volunteer activities Mahmoud’s involved in, he doesn’t have a lot of time for two things he loves to do: writing poetry and drawing.