White Coat Ceremony

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Sandra Al-Tamimi

Sandra Al Tamimi was born in Dallas, Texas, but grew up in Toronto, Canada. She was raised by immigrant parents and is fluent in Arabic, French, and English. After obtaining her Honors bachelor's degree in the sciences from the University of Toronto, she started her medical journey as a first-generation physician at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC). While at AUC, she was on the dean's list and was awarded the Empower Scholarship for her academic achievements. She was also involved in various leadership roles, including historian of the student government and co-treasurer of the Canadian Medical Student Association.

Sandra endured and displayed her resilient character by pivoting and adapting to the sudden changes in her life after Hurricane Irma by completing her 5th semester in Preston, UK. She then went on to have her clinical rotations in Miami, Florida, at Jackson Memorial Hospital System and the University of Miami Hospital. While there, she immersed herself in the city, population, and culture and taught herself basic Spanish. Upon graduating at the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020, she completed her pediatric residency training at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she fell in love with medical education and pediatric emergency medicine. Her passion for pediatric emergency medicine was evident as she received a pediatric emergency medicine award during her residency graduation.

Dr. Al Tamimi's commitment to her field is unwavering. She embarked on her fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at the John's Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland and is now entering her second year. Her dedication to learning and teaching is further evidenced by her pursuit of a master's degree in medical education. Even during her training, Dr. Al Tamimi remained connected to her alma mater, and actively participated in events for prospective AUC students, a clear demonstration of her passion for medical education.

Outside of work, Dr. Al Tamimi's diverse interests and personal qualities shine through. She has a love for travel (having explored over 25 countries); and a passion for reading, which she even shared by starting a book club in her training programs. Described as a happy, optimistic, and humble by her friends and colleagues, she is a testament to hard work and dedication to her goals.