OSU-COM offers path to medicine for five brothers

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Media Contact: Sara Plummer | Senior Communications Coordinator | 918-561-1282 | sara.plummer@okstate.edu

For nearly 15 years, one of five brothers from the Khattab family has attended classes, studied for tests, practiced clinical skills or went through rotations as a medical student at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

That era came to an end in May 2024 when the youngest brother, Dr. Abdul Khattab, walked across the graduation stage and became the next physician in his family.

“I have wanted to be a physician ever since I was a kid. I have always had a passion for helping others, and I love that the learning never stops,” said Abdul, who is now in his first year as an internal medicine resident at the University of Oklahoma School of Community Health in Tulsa.

Dr. Ahmad Khattab was the first to graduate from OSU-COM in 2014, followed by his brothers Dr. Mohamad Khattab in 2016, Dr. Mahmood Khattab in 2019, Dr. Mostafa Khattab in 2021 and finally Abdul this past year. 

“I think my brothers seeing me go through the process first definitely helped make their decision to go to OSU-COM easier. I didn’t really need to encourage them much to apply after they saw how enjoyable my experience was,” said Ahmad, who is now an interventional pain management physician with Saint Francis Health System. “It was nice to go through the experience first as the older brother so that I could help guide them on their own paths.”

Mostafa, who is in his last year of ophthalmology residency with the Dean McGee Eye Institute in Oklahoma City, said having siblings who are physicians, as well as his father, Dr. Hussein Khattab, impacted his decision to become a doctor — and where he would go to school. 

“Having multiple family members go through training at OSU-COM definitely influenced my decision for medical school as it gave me a first-hand look into the life of an OSU-COM student and showed me how great a school it is,” Mostafa said.

Mohamad is a cardiologist at Saint Francis Heart and Vascular Institute in Tulsa and Mahmood is a cardiovascular disease fellow at OU Heath Sciences in Oklahoma City.

Several of the Khattab brothers said having a family full of doctors isn’t intimidating, but an asset as it means having close mentors to go to for advice and who had share similar experiences.

“We always talk about how we feel grateful to have been given the opportunity and responsibility to be physicians,” Ahmad said. “God has blessed us to be able to have made it through the journey and support each other on our way, as well as having the most loving parents and sister who gave us endless support throughout the process.” 

Abdul said that a supportive family environment is a big reason he chose to go to OSU-COM like his brothers.

“I grew up and thrived in a tight knit family and tight knit Muslim community here in Tulsa. I knew I would give myself the best opportunity to thrive if I pursued medical training at an institution that offered a similar tight knit feel. OSU-COM offered exactly that,” he said. “I’ve met so many new people who will hopefully be in my life forever. Pair that with excellent academics and state-of-the-art facilities and resources and it was an easy choice.”

His older brothers also set great examples for him.

“I always looked up to my brothers and always knew I would follow in their footsteps. More than anything they said, it was seeing their excitement and passion every day that reaffirmed my decision to attend OSU-COM.”

The Khattab family showed that same excitement and passion when they watched Abdul graduate this past spring from OSU, a tradition that started with Ahmad.

“With every brother that has gone through medical school, it’s made me more and more proud of each of them,” Ahmad said. “One of my favorite traditions at OSU-COM is that you can choose someone special to hood you at graduation. I was fortunate enough to have been hooded by my dad, something I know meant a lot to him and to me as well. Then I hooded two of my brothers and then watched those brothers hood our younger brothers when they graduated. It was an awesome experience and a memory we will always cherish.”