Ahmed Saad
My name is Ahmed Saad, I’m from Egypt. I decided to go into Operations Management, especially in the healthcare sector, when I saw firsthand how intelligent systems can save lives. I spent years working at hospitals in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, where I witnessed firsthand how bottlenecks in supply chain logistics and mismanagement of data can cost patients vital time. That inspired me to dedicate my energy and career to how hospitals work — from logistics to quality control — and contribute to making healthcare safer, more available, and more sustainable.
My master’s degree program in MSOM at the University of Arkansas will be a great leap toward a dream. But it has not been easy. As an international student, I’ve had to navigate strict visa regulations, work hour restrictions, and high tuition fees. I have a Graduate Assistant position to pay my way and help with tuition, but there still isn’t much financial breathing room — especially now, as my partner awaits the arrival of our first child in October. I pick up some more shifts in the summer too, and all the while I am striving to keep my GPA at a high level, work toward professional Certifications (CSCP, Power BI, etc.) which will make my future brighter from the industry perspective.
The financial struggle is a constant, and it’s hard to know that no matter how hard you work there’s a ceiling to what you can make because of your F-1 status. Every dollar I earn goes to rent, tuition, or baby preparations. That’s why donor support on this platform could have an impact. It wouldn’t just be financial aid to me — it would help keep me focused on learning, doing research, and building the future that I’m working so hard to build. It would also allow me to be involved with community service and leadership, such as the positions I currently hold of Chief Justice of the Graduate Professional Student Congress and the University Council at the University of Arkansas.
One moment that motivates me came years ago at 57357 Children’s Cancer Hospital in Cairo. We were critically low on medication supplies, and I had to rapidly overhaul the ordering and tracking process with my team under enormous stress. That initiative saved thousands of dollars and meant life-saving medication was not held up. That was when I knew the operational and data side kept humans in healthcare, not just to support efficiency in healthcare.
That moment and many others still drive me today. I want to complete my degree, earn a Ph.D. in management, then start a consulting firm that assists hospitals throughout the Arab world in repairing broken systems and adopting best practices. I know where I came from, and I know what smart, committed people can accomplish when given a chance.
Not only will your support enable me to continue this journey, your support will help me pay it forward and open opportunities to others in places that need the most change. Thank you for believing in students such as myself.
