Lawyer, Doctor, Exemplary Alum: See What Motivates Zayn Mohamed ’18
Ask nearly any ambitious youth what they want to be when they grow up, and you’re likely to get one of two answers: lawyer or doctor. It seems rare that one would say they want to do both.
Then there’s 2018 Stetson Law alumnus Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed, who is both. A lawyer, doctor, triathlete, and accomplished pianist, he tends to excel at whatever he does.
Mohamed enrolled at Stetson in 2016 after becoming the youngest person to graduate from University of South Florida not only at the age of 18, but in just three years with a dual degree (B.S. in biomedical sciences; B.A. in political science) and a 4.0 grade point average. He graduated from Stetson Law in December of 2018, a semester ahead of the traditional J.D. schedule – as valedictorian, no less. He received the prestigious Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award for spring 2019 and was a top Florida bar exam scorer. He went on to earn his M.D. from University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine in 2022.
Driven from an early age
Born in Cairo, Egypt, Mohamed came to the U.S. with his family as a child. His ambitious life and career goals were heavily influenced by his faith – he often cites a driving factor of Itqan Al Amal, an Arabic term and concept from Islam insisting that when an individual chooses to do something they must do so to the best of their ability. He also heavily credits not only his mentors, but his dear mother and close-knit brothers who have supported him endlessly throughout his endeavors.
When he graduated from USF, he told WUSF that the 2011 Arab Spring and Egyptian revolution were influential in his decision to pursue a law degree, as was the idea that he could help society progress through his own work.
“That’s been a core motivator since before school,” he said. “But it’s stayed with me since.”
An exemplary law student
Now a Tampa-based patent attorney at Carlton Fields specializing in medical technology, Mohamed said he finds his work compelling – and that he credits Stetson Law with helping him find a career path about which he could be passionate.
“Stetson definitely was life-changing for me,” he said. “I love the school, the family environment, the world-class professors, and the student community.”
Mohamed’s introduction to patent law came from a property law course he took with Professor Kristen Adams, which had a section on intellectual property that piqued his interest. This led to working with Associate Dean Darryl Wilson as well as patent externships with USF and Moffitt Cancer Center.
It is an area of law at the crux of his two chosen professions, one that continues to evolve as technology’s role in healthcare continues to grow.
While at Stetson Law, he was a member of the Dispute Resolution Board and part of the team that competed in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, which culminates each year in Vienna.
Professor Joseph Morrissey, one of that team’s coaches, remembers Mohamed as “one of our best advocates ever,” adding that he brought unmatched enthusiasm to competition preparations.
“In addition to phenomenal advocacy skills, Zayn composed and directed a music video showcasing his advocacy team’s preparations,” Morrissey said. “The video, named “Together,” won first prize as part of a secondary competition the Vis moot had that year to commemorate its 25th year. The video was met with thunderous applause in the historic Concert Hall in Vienna on the opening night of the competition – a night none of us who were there will ever forget.”
Balancing it all out
With such a long list of achievements, it could be hard to imagine someone like Mohamed having time to decompress – but over the years he says he’s managed the stress through activities like swimming and piano. Early in his career, a mentor gave him two pieces of advice he took to heart. The first was to stop and smell the roses.
The second? Find ways to help others succeed, such as offering professional experience to students and service through clinics.
“In anything anyone does, there’s always a way to pay it forward,” he said.
Post date: June 4
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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