Daniel Eleyahouzadeh, MD ’23, persevered to becoming a doctor, because he has an innate sense of purpose and effervescence that is incontrovertible. From childhood, a quiet but insistent voice pushed him forward through rejections, through doubt, through every moment when he came close to walking away. “I always tell people: medicine is not something you wake up one morning and decide. It’s innate. Even when I got denied, I said to myself — no, I will become a doctor. That voice never stopped.”
When Dr. Eleyahouzadeh (Dr. E) arrived at Ross Med he found a supportive community that helped him build a learning environment from which he could soar. “Ross gave me an opportunity I fully embraced,” he says simply. That opportunity came into sharp focus during clinical rotations, where working alongside children and adolescents revealed his calling. Psychiatry and the young patients who needed someone firmly in their corner was exactly where he was meant to be.
A Champion for Children, In and Out of the Clinic
Long before medicine, volunteering and giving back shaped Dr. E’s sense of purpose and that commitment to children has only deepened with time. As a lifelong volunteer, he has consistently shown up for young people at every stage, investing time, energy, and care into their futures. In the clinic, his work in child and adolescent psychiatry rests on a foundation he considers essential: earning trust. Young people, he knows, must feel safe and seen before they can begin to open up. He brings that understanding to every session, every interaction, and every opportunity to make a difference in a young life.
Currently a psychiatrist at St. John's Episcopal Hospital in New York, Dr. E will be entering a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Brookdale University Hospital beginning July 2026, further cementing his commitment to one of medicine's most needed specialties.
An Authentic Ambassador
Since graduating, Dr. E has supported countless Ross events and participated in our Alumni Call Campaign, connecting directly with accepted students to help them navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives. What sets Dr. E apart is he actively seeks out new ways to be involved. He brings ideas, proposes initiatives, and consistently looks for opportunities to deepen his contribution to the institution and to the students who will follow in his footsteps.
We are honored to recognize Dr. Eleyahouzadeh as the 2026 Alumni Ambassador Award winner. His story is a testament to what happens when someone refuses to give up on a calling and the power of intention, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to children and future Rossies.
