The Founders
Our Foundation
Founder
Azan Virji
Azan Virji is the Founder of F-1 Doctors and was the first Team Lead of F-1 Doctors. He is a first-generation, low-income African at Harvard Medical School. He received his undergraduate B.S. and MPH from Yale University. Previously, he has interned at the WHO, worked as an Associate Consultant at Dalberg and performed research on malaria rapid diagnostics in Uganda.
Azan has been vocal about the struggles of international students in the US and has experience working with international students as a Peer Liaison in college.
Founder
Ghazal Aghagoli
Ghazal served as the first Director of Operations of F-1 Doctors. She is an Iranian/Canadian medical student at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She received her B.S. in Neuroscience from Brown University. During her time in college, she was an EMT at Brown EMS, co-host of the MindBody TV program, and peer career advisor (PCA). As a PCA, she focused on amplifying support and mentorship for international students.
Ghazal is committed to pass on everything she knows about applying to medical school as an international student.
Founder
Benjamin Gallo Marin
Ben served as the first Director of Operations of F-1 Doctors. He is from Nicaragua and a current first year at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He holds an A.B. in Molecular Biology from Princeton University, where he focused on advocating for neurodiversity through art in Central America. After college, he pursued a one-year post-baccalaureate program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ben is committed to amplifying mentorship for international students seeking to pursue medical school in the United States.
Founder
Ashiana Jivraj
Ashiana is a fourth year student at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Born and Raised in Calgary, Canada, she holds an MBA from Harvard University and a BA in Biology from Barnard College of Columbia University. Throughout her educational career, she has been a mentor and tutor to many international medical and dental students, as well as joint-degree students like herself.
Ashiana understands the challenges of finding resources as she struggled to figure out what applying as a non-American would look like. She is passionate about increasing access to services and mentorship opportunities.
Board Member
Rachel Jaber Chehayeb
Rachel, born and raised in Lebanon, is a second-year medical student at the Yale School of Medicine. She holds a BS in biochemistry from Yale College and is heavily involved with many movements including Yale Cancer Student Interest Group. Rachel had the honor of serving as team lead of F1 Doctors for the 2021 year and remains involved as a board member.