Zacharia Ismaio

Zacharia Ismaio is a second-year medical student at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU and a first-generation American. Growing up across nine states exposed him to significant gaps in healthcare access, which inspired his early commitment to community outreach. He founded a high school program supporting children of refugees through tutoring and mentorship and later contributed to tuberculosis education and vaccination efforts within immigrant communities in Seattle. He continues to serve through free clinics and grade-school mentorship programs. At the age of 22, Zacharia was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, an experience that profoundly reshaped his perspective and strengthened his dedication to diabetes education, advocacy, and patient-centered care.