Hospitalized at the age of four, a young boy brought along his toys of small cars and action figures as comfort. “At that young age, I observed how much the doctors were caring for their patients; they were, through my eyes, the actual superheroes,” said Rayhan Mehal ’26. They saved Mehal’s life, while also leaving him with an impression — one that he hoped to embody in his future.

As a recent middle-school graduate and newly-enrolled ninth grader at The Bronx High School of Science, Mehal sought to develop the passion for medicine and healthcare that he recognized during his youth. Becoming more fond of the medical field was “cathartic” for Mehal as he was struck with the love of humanity embedded in health care. “To establish longevity and ensure my heart is laden with love of this so-called passion, I worked to learn more about the medical field: watching videos in regards to the experiences of doctors, learning about different specialties, and allowing myself to understand the different processes,” said Mehal. An “obsessive curiosity” overtook him as he exerted effort toward his goal.

However, Mehal encountered some challenges along the way as he was unable to find a program that could fulfill his drive in learning about medicine. Either blocked by the prices of some programs outside of school or left with unanswered questions in others due to the lack of mentors for assistance or even both, Mehal did not have access to a program that allowed him to effectively grow his knowledge about the health sciences.

His solution? The resilient Rayhan Mehal created his own program: the Youth Medical Association (YMA).

“When visiting my grandmother, who is a doctor in Bangladesh, I always used to see her caring for all of her patients and treating each of them with unbridled kindness. When I was rushed to the emergency room around the age of four, I witnessed the same constant friendly, attentive, and caring attitudes of the medical professionals, providing me with a newfound perspective of respect and appreciation for them. The common first hand interactions in medical clinics are most likely where I generated my passion and started to attempt to understand the qualifications and responsibilities that make a great physician and professional. I want to reciprocate this,” said Mehal.

With over 200 members, the Youth Medical Association (YMA) is a growing nonprofit organization focused on the goal of nurturing students’ passions and pursuits within the medical field. By offering internship, mentorship, and fellowship opportunities at hospitals and clinics throughout the city, YMA officials strive to expose their members to the medical field, building not only experience, but also confidence and reassurance in their passion for the field.

“Frankly, I am a person who truly enjoys an interactive environment within a community and being able to interact with others with similar interests. It has come to my attention that so many individuals are interested in medicine, but unfortunately, some schools do not give students access to opportunities that would help them on their journeys of pursuing the medical field. Thus, the YMA was established to help provide these individuals with the resources, while creating a welcoming community of those interested in medicine,” said Mehal.

As the founder of the organization whilst being a ninth grader at The Bronx High School of Science, Mehal strives to create an environment in which young enthusiasts in medicine can do what they love. Firstly, Mehal recruited a vice-president for the organization who would be able to grow the club and assist with major projects. Ruixin Li ’24 is the current vice-president for YMA having her own goals of pursuing health sciences in her undergraduate studies until eventually studying in medical school. Together, they operate YMA and its various branches ranging from writing informative medical articles to inquiring hospitals and clinics for fellowship and shadowing opportunities. As a result, both of them hope to accommodate an environment whose members can receive the proper accommodations that allow them to learn more about the field.

They have done just that as current members of the organization not only feel the effect of YMA in their aspirations but also resonate with the organization’s essential goal. “I think YMA is very effective in fostering a passion for medical students. Not only does it allow students to learn about the overarching idea of working in medicine, but it allows students to dig deeper and gain insight into the different potential careers and what it would take for them to reach their career goals. I certainly can’t wait to be more active in the organization and have new opportunities available to me,” said Jadyn Sinclair ’25 who is a current member of The Youth Medical Association. 

Haaris Ishfaq ’25, another member of YMA, feels the same way as his peers in the club alongside himself. “I decided to join the organization of YMA primarily in hopes of pursuing my love for the intersections between the professional fields of science and medicine. I figured that joining YMA would better allow me to express my interests as well as finding out what exactly about medicine and which aspect of it I wish to aspire a career in. A nonprofit organization such as the YMA which provides internship opportunities along with mentorships seemed to be just the thing I was looking for.” 

As Ishfaq mentioned, The Youth Medical Association is currently undergoing the process of becoming a nonprofit organization. “YMA is a non-profit organization, meaning that it does not profit off of any events or donations, but funding is still necessary. All of the funded money is put directly into building and granting new opportunities to members of our organization. Essentially, YMA works together as a community to ensure it meets the needs and goals of the entire organization whilst also making sure there are no extraneous profits,” said Mehal.

The members of YMA enjoy a variety of activities and  have older students or even professional mentors who prepare them for their pursuit of the medical field. “The Youth Medical Association (YMA) offer lessons regarding different specialties, discuss recent public health issues, welcome medical professionals to shadow on our meetings, and have a mentoring program, in which high school seniors and college students come on to discuss their experiences and offer advice to others. A student may be interested in joining YMA because they want to find other dedicated people who have similar interests as them and be able to learn more about the medical field.  I would also like to mention the supportive, lively, and passionate community we proudly host on our weekly meetings. We constantly aim to promote a stress and judgment-free environment where students can freely share and express their thoughts and aspirations regarding the medical field. So join if you love medicine like the rest of us!” said Mehal. 

“Try it out! YMA is absolutely not the biggest commitment. I believe that it’s  important for students and young scholars such as ourselves to cover possible options and determine what appeals to us and what does not,” said YMA member Besines Santana ’24, when asked about what she would like to say in order to convince potential YMA members.

As Mehal visioned and communicated to members like Santana, YMA is a medium for those interested in medicine to express and learn more about their passion. So, Mehal continues to exclaim, “calling all medical enthusiasts: YMA is for you.”

“Try it out! YMA is absolutely not the biggest commitment. I believe that it’s  important for students and young scholars such as ourselves to cover possible options and determine what appeals to us and what does not,” said YMA member Besines Santana ’24, when asked about what she would like to say in order to convince potential YMA members.