Student Spotlights

When you were deciding where you would attend medical school, what was special about the Keck School of Medicine of USC that made you choose to come here? What are some enjoyable moments and/or important accomplishments that you have experienced while at KSOM of USC?

Eman Ahmad
Hometown: Saratoga, CA
Undergrad: University of Southern California
Interests: Pediatric ENT, Child neurology, pediatrics, mentorship and teaching in medicine
Medical School year: Class of 2028

If you had asked me in high school about my thoughts about being in class leadership, I probably would’ve gotten dizzy (and not in an excited way) at the thought. Six years later, I serve on my class student council here at Keck, a role I would have never found the confidence to pursue without the support that I have found here from my peers and faculty. Medical school has presented some of my most difficult personal challenges yet, but it has also been where I have felt the most supported. From lifelong friends who make every day memorable to faculty mentors rooting for my success, I feel rich in the connections I have made at Keck.

Along the way, my excitement for medicine has only grown. Whether I’m speaking with patients in ICM or exploring pathology in the classroom, I am constantly reminded why I chose this path. While I’m still unsure of the specialty I’ll ultimately pursue, I am committed to being a compassionate clinician and a supportive mentor to future medical students. Keck has undoubtedly given me the tools to succeed at these goals, and I have already gotten a taste through my participation in community health fairs, admissions, class leadership, and so much more.

Keck has also been a perfect place to explore passions outside of medicine. In my time here so far, I’ve trained for a half-marathon with five of my classmates (I couldn’t even run a mile at the start of the year), trained to receive my yoga teacher certification, and started learning piano through Keck’s free lessons. I’ve even performed with my friends in the school talent show!

Tobi Ayo-Ajibola
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Undergrad: University of California, Davis
Interests: Otolaryngology, health disparities, underserved communities, mentorship, preventative healthcare, application of artificial intelligence in medicine
Medical School Year: Fourth Year (Class of 2026)

My story begins with my parents, Nigerian immigrants whose pursuit of medicine began long before our family arrived in the United States. Rebuilding their medical careers from the ground up required years of perseverance, sacrifice, and faith in the idea that the practice of medicine carries the same purpose no matter where it is done—to heal, to serve, and to create opportunity for others. From them, I learned that true impact in medicine comes from serving in places where your presence and skills are needed most in shaping stronger, healthier communities.

That belief led me to the Keck School of Medicine of USC. I was drawn to Keck’s balance between academic excellence and service, and to its partnership with Los Angeles General Medical Center, which exposes students to the full spectrum of healthcare—from advanced tertiary care to safety-net medicine. Working in both environments has deepened my understanding of how structural barriers affect health and how compassion, teamwork, and advocacy can bridge those divides. Additionally, Los Angeles represents one of the most diverse populations in the country, yet underserved individuals—here and across the nation—remain underrepresented in research and often face barriers to advanced care. Through my work in otolaryngology and health outcomes research, I’ve sought to better understand these disparities and use data to inform more equitable care models.

My mentors—spanning otolaryngology, internal medicine, pediatrics, and emergency medicine—have shown me that excellence and empathy are not mutually exclusive. Their example has reinforced my commitment to pursue a career in otolaryngology that unites surgical precision, research innovation, and an unwavering dedication to the communities most often overlooked.

Sindhu Daggupati
Hometown: San Ramon, CA
Undergrad: University of California, San Diego
Interests: Neurosurgery
Medical School Year: Third year, taking a DRS year, Class of 2028

I was drawn to Keck for its patient population and the chance to learn in an environment where medical students take on meaningful responsibility early. Training across both the academic hospital and county has given me an incredible range of experiences, especially in trauma, acute care, and high-acuity medicine. But what truly made Keck feel like home were the people I met on interview day and at second look: the sense of community, support, and genuine kindness was unlike anywhere else. Mentors in trauma surgery and neurosurgery helped shape my path in ways I didn’t expect, showing me what it means to care for patients during their most critical moments and helping me discover a passion for research that I never expected to enjoy. Learning how to balance the many opportunities at Keck was a challenge at first, but with guidance from mentors and encouragement from my peers, I learned how to grow while staying grounded.

Keck’s mission and location have also played a defining role in my education. Training in the heart of Los Angeles, with its incredibly diverse and high-acuity patient population, has pushed me to think quickly, stay humble, and meet each patient exactly where they are. I’ve been grateful to participate in service organizations like Healing Hearts Across Borders, where we provide monthly free clinics in Mexico, and Bravo Mentorship, where I work with local high school students on career development and clinical skills. These experiences deepened my love for teaching and mentorship – one of the reasons I ran for student government, where I have served as Co-President of the MD Class of 2027. They also shaped my long-term goal of contributing to medical education, whether through residency program leadership or through a role in a medical school where I can support and teach future students and residents.

I am the first in my family to pursue medicine and graduate education, a path shaped by my upbringing in an Indian household in San Ramon. Telugu was my first language, and growing up in a strong immigrant community continues to center my values and perspective. Traveling has always been a meaningful part of my life and remains one of my favorite ways to learn from new places and people. Outside of medicine, I love hiking, exploring new destinations, spending time with loved ones, and finding small moments of joy in everyday life. Looking ahead, I hope to pursue a career in academic neurosurgery with interests in trauma, tumor, and vascular neurosurgery, and to one day mentor trainees with the same generosity and guidance that shaped my own path. If you value community, service, and growing alongside people who believe in your potential, Keck is a place where you will thrive.

Ella Jackert
Hometown: Pasadena, CA
Undergrad: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Interests: Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Surgery, Oncology, Survivorship, Disparities in Cancer Care
Medical School Year: MS4

Growing up in Los Angeles, I always knew about Keck Medicine. They were present everywhere – from providing service to our communities to the medical tents when I ran my first marathon. When I was deciding on where I wanted to attend medical school, the choice was easy. After fostering my love for science and medicine during my undergraduate years at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, I was ecstatic to be given the opportunity to return home to begin my medical training at USC. As I am now in the final years of my medical education at Keck, I am grateful to have made the perfect decision for me for where to attend medical school. The community built at Keck goes beyond just the classmates you sit next to or those who you take call with during your clinical years but truly feels like an optimally selected group of life-long collaborators and colleagues.

I never expected to pursue a surgical subspecialty when I started medical school, but Keck gave me the space and support to discover the right path. My early exposure to oncology — from working as a medical assistant in a cancer clinic — sparked my passion for caring for patients facing complex diagnoses. At Keck, diverse research experiences and clinical mentorship allowed that passion to grow. It was ultimately in the anatomy lab and through shadowing in the OR that I realized how perfectly head and neck surgery aligns with my interests in neuroanatomy and cancer care. The field’s technical precision, deep grounding in oncologic principles, and its immense impact on a patient’s identity and quality of life are exactly what I had been searching for — and what Keck helped me find.

As I prepare to apply for residency, I carry immense gratitude for the mentors, peers, and patients who have helped me discover this calling. I am driven toward a career as an academic otolaryngologist where I can combine compassionate clinical practice with meaningful research that improves outcomes for individuals facing head and neck cancer. Keck has given me the foundation, inspiration, and sense of community to pursue this path — and I am eager to continue growing as a surgeon-scientist in a field that so perfectly brings together everything I love about medicine.