Soha Afzal
Elk Grove
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Clinical Medical Assistant
Dr. Takhar's Family Medicine & Urgent Care Clinic
07.2024 - 05.2026
- Collaborated with providers in urgent care and family medicine settings to support care delivery for nearly 1,000 patients.
- Obtained vital signs, documented medical histories, roomed patients, performed EKGs, administered IM and SQ injections, drew blood, and collected laboratory specimens to ensure comprehensive patient assessments.
- Prepared exam rooms, sterilized equipment, coordinated follow-up appointments, and assisted during procedures to maintain efficient workflow and enhance patient care.
- This hands-on role strengthened my clinical assessment, patient communication, and multitasking skills while deepening my understanding of team-based healthcare and the responsibilities of a future physician assistant.
Clinical Shadowing Student
Dr. Takhar's Family Medicine & Urgent Care Clinic
08.2024 - 03.2026
- Shadowed physician assistant in clinical settings, gaining insights into patient evaluations and medical decision-making processes.
- Observed provider-patient interactions, reviewed medical histories, conducted physical assessments, engaged in diagnostic discussions, and assisted with treatment planning.
- Engaged in provider-patient interactions, reinforcing understanding of importance of communication, empathy, and patient education in clinical care.
- Observed collaboration among PAs, physicians, nurses, and medical assistants, enhancing understanding of PA role and preparing for responsibilities in patient-centered healthcare.
Crew Member
McDonald's
10.2023 - 10.2025
- Worked in a fast-paced environment handling customer service, meal preparation, drive-thru operations, and cash transactions while maintaining efficiency during peak hours.
- My responsibilities included taking accurate orders, managing payments, preparing food, and coordinating with team members to ensure smooth daily operations.
- Frequent interaction with diverse customers strengthened my communication, multitasking, and problem-solving skills while teaching me how to remain calm and organized under pressure.
- This experience improved my ability to work effectively in team-based settings, an important skill for future patient care environments as a physician assistant.
MSA Club Member
UC Davis
10.2023 - 06.2025
- As a member of the UC Davis Muslim Student Association (MSA), I participated in campus discussions, cultural events, volunteering activities, and community outreach programs that promoted inclusivity and support among students from diverse backgrounds.
- Involvement in group events and service activities required teamwork, communication, and collaboration with peers to create welcoming spaces on campus.
- Through these experiences, I strengthened my leadership, interpersonal, and cultural awareness skills while learning the importance of building supportive relationships within diverse communities, an essential part of patient-centered healthcare.
Pre-PA Club Member
UC Davis
10.2023 - 05.2025
- As a member of the UC Davis Pre-PA Club, I attended workshops, professional development meetings, and guest speaker events focused on the physician assistant profession, patient care experience, and the PA school application process.
- Participation in mentorship opportunities and networking events allowed me to connect with current healthcare professionals and students pursuing careers in medicine.
- Through these experiences, I strengthened my communication, collaboration, and professional development skills while gaining a deeper understanding of team-based healthcare and the responsibilities of a future physician assistant.
Research Student
UC Davis
06.2024 - 04.2025
- As a modified systematic review research student at UC Davis, I worked closely with a faculty mentor on a project investigating the relationship between aspartame consumption and depression symptoms in adults.
- My responsibilities included collecting scientific studies through PubMed and other scientific databases, screening peer-reviewed studies for relevance, organizing research data, and analyzing findings related to artificial sweeteners and mental health outcomes.
- This experience strengthened my critical thinking, scientific writing, and evidence-based research skills while helping me better understand how research informs clinical decision-making and patient care as a future PA.
Certified Dental Assistant
Ideal Dentistry
06.2023 - 06.2024
- Worked with the dentist to support patient care for nearly 200 patients in a fast-paced clinical setting.
- My responsibilities included preparing treatment rooms, sterilizing instruments, taking dental radiographs, updating patient charts, and assisting during procedures through suctioning, instrument transfer, and patient support.
- Additional duties involved scheduling appointments and verifying insurance information when needed.
- Daily interaction with patients strengthened my communication, infection control, and teamwork skills while providing hands-on clinical experience that improved my understanding of patient-centered care and procedural support relevant to PA training.
Behavioral Aide
Point Quest Group
04.2022 - 01.2023
- Worked one-on-one with autistic and special education students in a school setting under the supervision of teachers and behavioral staff.
- My responsibilities included supporting students with academic tasks, communication, behavioral goals, meal assistance, restroom needs, and classroom participation while following individualized education and behavior plans.
- Close collaboration with multidisciplinary staff strengthened my ability to adapt to challenging situations, communicate effectively, and provide patient-centered support.
- This experience improved my understanding of behavioral health, developmental disabilities, and compassionate care in team-based environments.
ESL Tutor
Cosumnes River College
05.2021 - 12.2022
- Worked closely with college ESL students to support academic development in reading, writing, and communication.
- My responsibilities included reviewing essays, explaining course material, assisting with grammar and vocabulary, and helping students strengthen their verbal and written communication skills.
- Regular interaction with students from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds required patience, adaptability, and clear communication.
- This role strengthened my leadership and interpersonal skills while teaching me the importance of effective communication, active listening, and individualized support for helping others succeed.
Community Immunizations Post-Monitor Volunteer
EPI
06.2021 - 08.2021
- Supported healthcare teams during immunization outreach programs serving underserved children in remote villages throughout Afghanistan.
- My responsibilities included conducting post-campaign household visits following National Immunization Days (NIDs), verifying vaccination coverage, identifying missed children, and documenting monitoring data using the provided campaign tools and reports.
- Community visits also involved updating the caregivers about vaccination status, reporting high-risk areas and refusals to supervisors, and supporting public health education focused on disease prevention and vaccine awareness.
- This role has taught me how to collect accurate public health data and conduct vaccine outreach.
Community Nutrition and Health Worker Volunteer
UNICEF
01.2019 - 09.2019
- Supported nutrition and health outreach programs for underserved children and families in remote villages throughout Herat, Afghanistan.
- My responsibilities included distributing iron and folic acid supplements to adolescent girls and anemic patients, assisting with malnutrition screenings, educating families on hygiene and disease prevention, and monitoring supplement compliance through follow-up visits.
- Additional duties involved maintaining records, coordinating with local health workers and community leaders, and referring individuals with concerning symptoms to healthcare facilities.
- This role strengthened my understanding of preventive healthcare in low-resource environments.
Education
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant -
Cal Regional
07-2025
Bachelor of Science - Global Disease Biology
University of California, Davis
06-2025
Associate Degree - Biological Sciences
Cosumnes River College
05-2024
Certified Dental Assistant -
Assist To Succeed
11-2023
Languages
- Turkish
- Farsi
Timeline
Clinical Shadowing Student
Dr. Takhar's Family Medicine & Urgent Care Clinic
08.2024 - 03.2026
Clinical Medical Assistant
Dr. Takhar's Family Medicine & Urgent Care Clinic
07.2024 - 05.2026
Research Student
UC Davis
06.2024 - 04.2025
Crew Member
McDonald's
10.2023 - 10.2025
MSA Club Member
UC Davis
10.2023 - 06.2025
Pre-PA Club Member
UC Davis
10.2023 - 05.2025
Certified Dental Assistant
Ideal Dentistry
06.2023 - 06.2024
Behavioral Aide
Point Quest Group
04.2022 - 01.2023
Community Immunizations Post-Monitor Volunteer
EPI
06.2021 - 08.2021
ESL Tutor
Cosumnes River College
05.2021 - 12.2022
Community Nutrition and Health Worker Volunteer
UNICEF
01.2019 - 09.2019
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant -
Cal Regional
Bachelor of Science - Global Disease Biology
University of California, Davis
Associate Degree - Biological Sciences
Cosumnes River College
Certified Dental Assistant -
Assist To Succeed