Rayan Hassan, like many first-year students, arrived at the University of Minnesota with a dream of pursuing a degree that would lead to a fulfilling career. For Rayan, that dream was to become a Physician Assistant (PA), but the right pathway there wouldn’t become visible right away.
She knew the University was the right place for her, but her initial major didn't quite match the specialized deep dive she was looking for. "I just realized I wanted something that felt a little more focused and structured, especially since I knew that I wanted to go into healthcare," Rayan says.
"So when I learned about the Health and Wellbeing Sciences program, it just seemed much more tailored towards pre-health students, especially people who were interested in becoming PAs. Also, I had heard really positive things from the students who were already in the program, and that definitely helped me feel confident about making the switch."
Motivation Rooted in First-Hand Experience
Growing up with a sister who is now a medical student, Rayan was exposed to the impact of healthcare early on. As she began to research the different roles in healthcare, she found that the role of physician assistant fit well with her interests and long-term goals. She shadowed PAs in different departments and loved "the patient interaction, the team-based aspects and the flexibility within different specialties."
Rayan’s motivation to go into healthcare, specifically dermatology, is fueled by personal reasons. It stems from her own struggles with eczema and acne that started when she was a child. "I was going to clinics all the time," she says. "I had really horrible eczema that was just everywhere. I went from steroids to steroids to try to maintain it. It got better, but then when I hit 14, boom, I got acne."
Rayan believes it’s important to help young people of color feel more confident and supported when it comes to their skin and hair health. As a young patient, she didn't come across many dermatologists who shared her skin or hair type. "It's an area that feels very meaningful to me," she continues. "I'd love to eventually work as a dermatology PA and help patients, especially people who look like me."
Making the Most of Her Time
Rayan is on track to graduate in 2027 and is busy making sure she is positioned to be a strong candidate for PA school. She works part-time in a behavioral health clinic in Saint Paul with kids with developmental disabilities and autism, on top of managing a full course load.
Plus, she recently founded the Somali Physicians Assistant Association student organization (find it on Instagram). She plans to hold two meetings this spring: one kick-off to introduce members and talk about the group's mission and roles, and one meeting to examine the PA career in-depth. Applications will open at that time to become a board member.
This leadership role, Rayan says, pushes her out of her comfort zone, but she is driven to learn more about and from people in her field. She wants more from her college experience than just academics, and she's especially interested in building meaningful connections with other students. Through this organization, she hopes to create a supportive environment where students can learn from each other and grow together while pursuing careers in healthcare.
She adds that her time in the Health and Wellbeing Sciences program has already shifted her perspective on what it means to be a healthcare provider. "Health really is influenced by a lot more than just medicine," she says. "This program really emphasizes looking at health from a broader perspective — things like lifestyle, community and access to care. It helps you think about patients more holistically."
Why It’s So Important to Connect with Your Advisor
"One person who has made a very big difference for me so far is my academic advisor (Megan Seltz). She's been really incredibly helpful, especially with planning my schedule, thinking through which science classes to take, and what other courses to take to get to the 15-credit criteria for FAFSA. She helped me make sure I'm on track for a PA school, and I feel like having that kind of guidance has made the transition to the program much smoother. She has experience with pre-health students, especially pre-PA students, and knows what their schedules should look like and how they can have their best application to submit."
Advice for Students
"Don't be afraid to ask questions and connect with people early on, whether that's advisors, professors or other students in the program. I think the more you talk to people and learn from their experiences the easier it becomes to figure out your own path in healthcare and what you want to do. I would also say try to get exposure in the field early on. Things like volunteering or shadowing, because it really helps confirm what you're interested in."
Mia Boos is a writer and content strategist with the College of Continuing and Professional Studies, covering the College’s graduate programs and undergraduate individualized degree programs. She joined the CCAPS Marketing team in 2014 and has worked for Thomson Reuters and New York University. Connect with her via LinkedIn.
