Zahrah Taufique is a champion for underserved communities wherever they exist; from Columbia’s campus to the world at large. When she sees a problem, Taufique delivers a solution—whether it’s creating a women’s squash team, founding a free clinic for refugees, or pursuing a field of study that will enable her to help those who need it most.

 

“With an emphasis on patient care, my understanding of systems-based practice in concert with a deep interest in improving the health of communities will hopefully allow me to be a positive force in healthcare,” Taufique said.

 

A 2009 Columbia College graduate with a B.A. in Political Science, Taufique now pursues an MD/MBA in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and represents P&S in the University Senate. She was born in Florida, grew up in Maryland, and later moved to Hong Kong with her family where she attended a German-Swiss international high school.

 

In her first year at Columbia, Taufique co-founded the Women’s Squash Club, which was promoted to Varsity status in 2010. Through the squash team, she volunteered once a week with StreetSquash— a Harlem-based urban youth enrichment program—and sits on the Squash Advisory Board, a group of alumni who spearhead fundraising, recruiting, and outreach to support programs like StreetSquash. 

 

 

 

Taufique’s leadership experience translated to new roles within her field, and in a larger community. Recognizing a need for a free clinic for refugees, Taufique founded the local P&S Columbia Chapter of the Asylum Clinic, which enables students to perform free medical exams on patients seeking asylum in the United States.

 

“These gaps in systems and unaddressed needs in medical communities intrigue and inspire me,” Taufique said. And it was an inspiration that led to an interest in otolaryngology.

 

While living in India for two months on medical rotations in Tamil Nadu, Taufique was exposed to immeasurable facial traumas, late stage tumors, cleft lip and palate deformities, and hearing impairment. 

 

 

Taufique currently works as a Research Assistant at the New York-Presbyterian Department of Otolaryngology, and credits her Columbia education for helping her reach her goals.

 

“I have loved being at Columbia,” she said. “I had the most amazing opportunities and was able to follow all my dreams and achieve them.”