Yasine Mirmozaffari never took academics too seriously in high school. Growing up in a family living below the poverty line, college and medicine once felt like distant possibilities. He enrolled in rigorous courses but rarely studied or took notes, instead dreaming of a future playing soccer.
He didn’t earn his first A until his senior year and openly admits he failed pre-calculus along the way.
“Nowadays, my friends say, ‘You’re in med school? You’re going to be a doctor or surgeon?’” Mirmozaffari said. “That’s funny to look back on, but it also lit a fire under me.”
Today, Mirmozaffari is a testament to what can happen when someone discovers their purpose and commits to pursuing it. In just a few short days, he’ll join his UNC School of Medicine Class of 2026 classmates in opening their Match Day envelopes on March 20.
Developing an interest in medicine
The one high school class in which Mirmozaffari earned an A was AP Biology. It marked the first time he felt truly engaged in a course, sparking a passion that led him to major in biology and public health at UNC Wilmington.
While adjusting to new study habits in college, Mirmozaffari’s twin brother developed schizophrenia and experienced his first psychotic break.
“That was one of the first things that pushed me toward going to medical school,” Mirmozaffari said. “His providers did more than treat him. They made sure my family felt supported, too. Seeing that level of compassion made me realize that this was the field I wanted to enter.”
With this decision in mind, Mirmozaffari looked for hands-on clinical experience. He found a role at St. Mary’s Health Center in Wilmington, working as a medical assistant triaging and volunteering in the clinic.
Through patient interactions, complex medical discussions, and the opportunity to help others, Mirmozaffari began to see his life’s mission take shape.
“Those experiences really grounded me,” Mirmozaffari said. “I finally felt like I had a purpose and that this was my calling.”
Making his mark at Carolina
After arriving at the UNC School of Medicine, Mirmozaffari quickly began to make his mark.
He founded Health Professional Athletics at Carolina (HPAC), a nonprofit that has raised more than $10,000 for UNC Children’s Hospital. Between his third and fourth year of medical school, he was elected as student body co-president for the School of Medicine.
Along the way, Mirmozaffari knew he wanted to pursue a career in academic medicine. Although he could have entered the match last year, he chose instead to take an additional research year to gain confidence in guiding a project from its initial conception through publication.
“I was able to publish 18 articles within the year,” Mirmozaffari said. “It was an extremely productive year, but I also was able to see how things that we research in the lab can help patients in the clinic.”
Mirmozaffari applied to otolaryngology – head and neck surgery. He is drawn to the field’s wide scope, having the chance to treat children and adults and perform both minor procedures and major surgeries.
Dr. Pali Shah, an otolaryngologist and Mirmozaffari’s advisor since his first day of medical school, played a key role in shaping his path. Mirmozaffari said he hopes to model his career after hers and credits her mentorship throughout the past four and a half years.
“Yas has the rare combination of genuine kindness and deep intellectual curiosity,” Shah said. “He approaches everything he does with genuine joy, which is contagious. His peers seek him out for guidance and support, making him a natural leader. These qualities make him not only an exceptional future doctor, but an exceptional person.”
The genuine joy that Shah speaks of comes from Mirmozaffari’s passion for becoming a Tar Heel doctor. He praised the number of opportunities that were at his fingertips and the School of Medicine’s strong culture of lifelong learning.
“UNC really teaches us how to be a complete doctor,” Mirmozaffari said. “UNC not only builds a strong foundation in clinical and social medicine, but also provides countless opportunities for growth helps you become a well‑rounded physician.”
Preparing for Match Day
As Match Day approaches, Mirmozaffari remains grateful for the support he’s received throughout medical school. He maintains a close relationship with his sister, a member of the UNC School of Medicine Class of 2027. The two bond not only as medical students, but also through their shared experience of having a chronically ill family member.
“Even though she’s younger than me, I feel like I look up to her,” Mirmozaffari said.
Mirmozaffari also stays connected with friends from the Class of 2025, the cohort he entered medical school with, who are now in the midst of residency training. He considers them lifelong friends.
Soon, he’ll join them at his own residency program somewhere across the country. Mirmozaffari approaches the uncertainty of Match Day with the same confidence that carried him from finding his purpose to trusting where it will lead him next.
“I’d be ecstatic to end up at any program I interviewed at,” Mirmozaffari said. “I know wherever I land, it will be the best fit for me.”
Editor’s Note: Yasine Mirmozaffari matched into Otolaryngology at UNC Hospitals during Match Day.