Ali Berry aspires to a career as a physician and community activist

There were many memorable moments for Ali Berry during his time at Henry Ford Early College, but none of them topped the program launch of the Narcan initative.

“I will always remember the kickoff day of that project, March 26. It showed me that dreams can come true,” recalled Berry. “It proved to me that I can break out of the confines that are sometimes considered student roles vs. adult roles.”

Alongside fellow Phi Theta Kappa members Abdulaziz Alkhalisi, Summer Brooks, and Charles Brooks (no relation), Berry worked for more than two years to get Narcan dispensers installed across HFC’s main campus and East Campus.

“I served as the Social Venture Challenge’s Narcan research team captain. We took it upon ourselves to see this dream come to fruition,” explained Berry. “I was heavily involved in meeting with people who had installed Narcan machines throughout Dearborn, learning from them, and securing funding through charitable organizations such as the National Institutes of Health. As Charles’ right-hand man, I’d often initiate collaborative efforts to identify obstacles and find ways to overcome them.”

It is difficult for Berry to verbalize how proud he is of this endeavor.

“The most eloquent words of gratitude and joy would understate how I truly feel,” he said. “It is standard for humanity to strive for a purpose, and in my doing so, I believe I have found a purpose greater than life alone: the preservation of life. I am very happy.”

Knowledge and action are connected

A lifelong Dearborn resident, Berry is the youngest of three. His older siblings, Hassan and Yasmeen, are also HFEC alumni. Berry, who speaks fluent English and Arabic, graduated from HFEC and earned two associate degrees from HFC in biology and chemsistry. Berry is headed to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he will major in cellular-molecular biology. He plans to attend medical school.

“HFEC gave me the opportunity to expand beyond what a typical high school student might expect with academics, sports, and other activities adjacent to student life,” he said. “Through HFEC and HFC, I’ve had opportunities as a student and a social and community activist. I believe that knowledge and action are partners, and I’ve been able to act toward the common good.”

HFC psychology instructor Alison Buchanan called Berry one of the most engaging students she’s known.

“Ali is amazing. He took my psychology class when he just entered the Early College,” she said. “He listened intently, asked questions, participated whenever I had group discussions, and worked closely with his classmates. His work ethic was amazing: He never missed a class, he never missed any assignments, he always asked for feedback. He’s a hardworking student and very personable. I am so proud of him.”

Leading with intellect and heart

Berry has been active with many organizations. He was a member of PTK, the Henry Ford II Honors Program, and a volunteer at the Hawks’ Nest, HFC’s student food pantry. Through HFEC, he was president of the Key Club, president of the Amity Club, and vice president of Active Minds.

“As Ali’s mentor in the Honors Program, I’ve watched him grow into a thoughtful, driven student who leads with both intellect and heart,” said HFC math instructor Sam Bazzi. “From his work on the NARCAN initiative to his environmental advocacy, Ali brings learning to life in meaningful ways. His passion for knowledge and deep empathy make him an inspiring member of the HFC community. We’re proud and excited to see what he will accomplish at U-M. I’ll certainly miss our engaging conversations when he moves on.”

In the summer of 2024, Berry presented at U-M’s UROP Symposium. His project, “Causative Mechanisms of Craniosynostosis,” explored cranial/facial abnormalities that can occur in an infant’s development.

“It was a very daunting project, and I faced impostor syndrome,” he confessed. “As weeks went by and I made progress and saw profound results, I began to believe I am capable of doing what I truly seek.”

Enthusiasm for learning prepared him for U-M

“Through my STEM classes, which include labs, I’ve learned many of the prerequisite skills to work successfully at U-M,” he said.

He is grateful to many HFC faculty members, including:

• Bazzi: “He made sure I was precisely steering my path to what I most desire. I relied on him for his wisdom and well-meaning interest in my own growth.”
• Buchanan: “Probably the friendliest professor I’ve ever had. She made her class highly discussion-based, which is beneficial in psychology, where you could use yourself as a reference for the concepts being taught. She fostered an engaging environment.”
• Chemistry instructor Chuck Irish: “He was my first STEM professor at HFC. He made the segue from high school to college as manageable as possible. His teaching style helps form connections between chemistry concepts and learning. His lab environment was conducive to hands-on learning and academic growth.”
• Chemistry instructor Stacey Buchanan: “I worked on a directed study project with her, researching the effects of a fentanyl overdose and the Naloxone revival. I met with her weekly to demonstrate the progress on my project, which benefited me in the realm of guidance and systematically tacklin an issue.”

“Ali is enthusiastic about learning,” said Irish. “When he was working on his honors project with another professor, he would stop by my office to share what he’d learned. When he was my student in my chem class, he always came prepared and asked great questions.”

Plans to serve his community, leading medical and nonprofit clinics

Berry’s parents, Dr. Ashraf and Zeina Berry, are Lebanese immigrants. His father is a pediatrician. Berry spoke at length about his desire to become a physician and community activist.

“I have been brought up through the care and well-being of the community that surrounds me,” he said. “I want to bring up the next generation of students, friends, and family through this same care and well-being. I believe practicing medicine is the best platform for my goals, which include providing free health care to my community and communities abroad via a free healthcare clinic, potentially serving as a resource on humanitarian aid missions.”

His mother is the COO of a nonprofit healthcare clinic in Garden City called C-ASSIST Family Health Clinic. She and her team conduct routine health checks and provide free vaccinations and prescriptions and other health services. C-ASSIST has since branched out into food, clothing, and school supply distributions, highlighting how health care and community service are intertwined.

“Serving with her in the clinic, I’ve been able to see how beautiful this can be,” said Berry. “The Dearborn community and those abroad saw the efforts of my mother and her team as a haven of support, where smiles and good faith were currency. Diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, plus combined efforts in support and being supported, proved that unity is the sum of considerate thought and noble action. Good people make a difference, and I seek to one day be one of those people. I will pursue an MD/MBA degree in the hopes that I can one day lead and manage health clinics.”

Berry also expressed great admiration for his father.

“Without fail, my father has served those who call him or see him in his office, as well as those who hug him goodnight and invite him over for dinner,” he said. “Growing up with asthma, allergies, and more, my family would depend on my father to keep us safe, which he has never failed to do, including at 3:00 a.m. during a vacation! This sense of security in being able to ensure the safety of those I love drives me toward a medical education and career.”