For second-year medical student Nicolas Abchee, the road to Gainesville has been anything but ordinary. Born and raised in Beirut, his life has been shaped by a tapestry of cultures, experiences and an unwavering commitment to humanity.

“When it came time to apply to medical school, I knew UF was where I wanted to be,” said Abchee, who shared his story at the Alumni Weekend scholarship luncheon last fall. “We are dedicated to science, but the culture is deeply rooted in family, community and faith in humanity.”

Recently, Abchee balanced comforting his grandmother in St. Augustine, Florida, as a hurricane approached, with dealing with news that his grandparents in Lebanon had been forced to flee their home due to a bombing — only to learn their
safe haven had also been attacked.

“There’s suffering everywhere, but it doesn’t fill me with hate — it fills me with a desire to stop this intergenerational cycle,” he said.

This desire drives his approach to medicine. “I want to be a doctor for all,” Abchee said. “I want to serve underserved communities in Gainesville with the same compassion I’d have for my own family.”

As a proud double Gator, he credits his path to the generosity of donors who believe in students like him.

“I’m learning in a place that values humanity as much as science,” Abchee said. “It’s a privilege to be here, and I hope to pay it forward when the time comes.”