Gulsom ShafiqGulsom Shafiq is a dedicated medical student and a first-year associate degree candidate in Health Science at the University of the People. With a strong passion for healthcare, leadership, and community impact, she is committed to transforming Afghanistan’s health system by combining effective medicine with innovation, education, and technology.

She has participated in various local and international leadership programs that have shaped her perspective on youth-led change, gender equity, and health advocacy. Through her voice and growing experience, she actively contributes to platforms that amplify the role of young women in shaping healthier, more resilient communities.

Her long-term vision is to rebuild and strengthen healthcare in Afghanistan through efficient, inclusive, and technology-driven solutions. She continues to serve as an emerging leader, using every opportunity to create sustainable change and empower others, especially Afghan girls, to rise, lead, and heal.

OMLAS Experience: “My journey as an OMLAS Fellow has been deeply transformative and empowering. Coming from Afghanistan, where young people, especially girls, face immense barriers to education, leadership, and opportunity, OMLAS has given me both the tools and the global community to dream bigger and act smarter. Each session challenged me to think critically about leadership, systems change, and social innovation. As a future doctor and digital innovator committed to rebuilding my country’s healthcare system, I found the training deeply aligned with my long-term mission. The connections I’ve made with global peers have inspired me to expand my impact beyond borders and collaborate for a more equitable future. OMLAS hasn’t just shaped how I lead, it has strengthened my belief that youth from even the most marginalized places can spark global change.”