A Mission Trip Changed Everything for Outstanding Graduate Yasmine Firdous
During a medical mission trip to the Philippines, Yasmine Firdous saw the impact surgical care can have on underserved communities.
When she came back to Toledo, Firdous decided to embark on a new journey, and Owens felt like the right place to help her fulfill that purpose. Firdous will graduate in May with her Associate Degree in Surgical Technology while also being named the program’s outstanding graduate.
“The medical mission trip was through an organization called Helping Hands Medical Missions,” Firdous said. “I initially went as a certified sterile processing technician, but due to a shortage of surgical technologists, I was asked to step into that role and was given a quick, hands-on introduction. That experience ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in surgical technology.”
Firdous’ partner, Alexander Gauamis, is also a graduate of the Surgical Technology program at Owens. She said his experience as a graduate gave him a unique perspective in supporting her through the journey, which she admitted wasn’t always easy.
Firdous said the support from instructors and the hands-on learning in open labs made a big difference in her experience at Owens.
“This program pushed me in ways I didn’t expect,” she said, adding that balancing work, school and clinicals was sometimes overwhelming and left her burnt out. “There were days I questioned if I could really do it. What kept me going was remembering the patients I had seen during my mission trip and the kind of impact I wanted to have. Even on the hardest days, I knew I had a purpose.”
After graduation, Firdous hopes to begin her surgical technology career in a Toledo-area hospital.
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Published May 2026