Raad Khatib

Background

About Raad Khatib

As a child, my father used to often speak about patience. There is a saying in Arabic that roughly translates to "After all patience, beautiful things await." My father loved that quote. He wouldn't let a day go by without mentioning that quote to my siblings and me. My parent's lives were defined by the word patience. Both my parents lived most of their lives as refugees fleeing war, poverty, and discrimination. Being a refugee forces you to play a dangerous game of waiting. Waiting for food, shelter, employment, and most importantly, a better life. My father's entire life goal was to find that better life for him and his family. He found that better life when he came to America after more than 30 years of trying. Patience was his key to surviving. My families story isn't a unique one. Every year thousands of families choose to leave everything they have ever known to make it to America for a chance at a better life for them and their families. This is where my inspiration and my career goals lie. I want to help people who come here with nothing and hope to build something. I am currently a dual MHA/MPH student at the Fairbanks School of Public Health. My goal with this degree is to help close health disparities in indigent populations. Especially minority and refugee communities. I am currently interning at Eskenazi Health as one of the five Esnkeanzi Health Scholars. Through this experience, I am gaining knowledge into hospital operations, project implementation, team management, and many more skills. I hope to take all the knowledge I learn from school and my work experience and become a resource to communities who need someone invested in their success.